Fans of Chicago P.D., get ready for a surprise! Jesse Lee Soffer, who played Detective Jay Halstead for nearly a decade, is returning to the Windy City. But before you get your hopes up for a badge and a gun, there's a twist: Soffer will be directing an upcoming episode in Season 13!
Soffer himself teased the news on Instagram, posting behind-the-scenes photos from the set with the caption, "I was honored to get to spend some time directing with my PD fam. More pics to come later don't wanna give away too much of the episode! Very grateful ❤️."
Soffer's Directorial Debut
This isn't Soffer's first time behind the camera for Chicago P.D. He previously directed "Deadlocked" (Season 10, Episode 16) and "Inventory" (Season 11, Episode 12), earning praise from his co-stars. LaRoyce Hawkins, who plays Officer Kevin Atwater, told ET in 2022 that Soffer's coaching was invaluable. "To have him on the sidelines coaching me up, that's a dynamic we've always had," Hawkins said.
The Season 13 premiere of Chicago P.D. airs Wednesday, October 1st at 10/9c on NBC and Peacock. Mark your calendars to see what Soffer brings to the table as a director.
On Set Security Concerns
In other Chicago P.D. news, the One Chicago Podcast revealed an interesting anecdote about guest star Mykelti Williamson, who played Voight's nemesis, Denny Woods. According to the podcast, Williamson requested extra security during filming because he was concerned that fans wouldn't differentiate between his character and reality. Apparently, playing Voight's antagonist can be a dangerous job, even off-screen!
The podcast's host, Brian Luce, a former Chicago police officer and producer for the show, recalled Williamson saying, "Because these people all love Voight — they know I'm coming to get them and they think it's real."
So, while we eagerly await Soffer's directorial debut, it's clear that the world of Chicago P.D. can be intense, both on and off-screen.