Chicago P.D. Season 10: Showrunner Previews Jesse Lee Soffer’s ‘Really Impactful’ Exit as Halstead
Jesse Lee Soffer may be leaving Chicago P.D. this season as Det. Jay Halstead, but the silver lining is that his impending departure won’t be so abrupt.
Season 10 — which premieres this Wednesday at 10/9c on NBC — will see the Windy City cop take his leave sometime in the fall. While showrunner Gwen Sigan couldn’t get into the specifics of how or when Halstead will say goodbye to his Intelligence cohorts, she did reveal that it’s not going to be a sudden thing.
“Hopefully, it all makes sense when everyone sees the episode that he’s departing in, and we did build to it, and we did have a chance to do that,” Sigan tells TVLine. “We tried to keep it as grounded [as possible] and do justice to Jesse and how great he is. He puts in a very good performance in all of it. It’s going to be really impactful.”
Halstead’s exit effectively puts an end to #Upstead, the romantic pairing between him and fellow detective Hayley Upton (Tracy Spiridakos). The pair officially got together in Season 8 and secretly wed at the courthouse in Season 9. For Upton, Halstead’s absence is “definitely going to be a big impact for her character this season when she is without him.”
“It’s such an interesting relationship, and it’s been that way since the beginning,” Sigan adds. “They have this thing together. It’s like they know what each other’s thinking. They have always supported each other. They’ve gotten in so many situations that have been so traumatic, and yet they’ve had each other’s backs. Even their marriage is built on this need to get through something, to be able to be each other’s anchor and to keep each other steady.”
To see Upton without that relationship is going to be “really interesting and something new for her character to have to combat,” she shares. “It’s a challenge, and she’s going to have to get through it. We’ll see her go in some interesting places, and how it manifests itself.”
How are you holding up, #OneChicago fam? Are you prepared to say goodbye to Halstead this season?
What a loss for the show. It ends with his exit for me!
Definitely, I am gone too.
Bye Felicia!
I’m 90% sure that Jay is going to die.
Not sure how they would kill him in a way that has the kind of build-up the showrunner is talking about.
Some sort of illness possibly?
Rather than kill him, they could put him in some deep long term undercover operation. They could also have him rejoin the military as part of some operation taking place over seas. In those scenarios, they are still married, but Hailey would have to deal with being separated from her husband. They could then bring him back for the final 2-3 episodes of the series.
so, are they still married? Just not working together.
Jay is the heart of this show. Not going to be watching it without him. Everything they say just makes me more certain that that’s the right choice. They’re doing a terrible job of selling this season.
The subtractions are hurting this show. However all the pairing off and ridiculous romantic drama made this more of a soap opera than necessary. I wish they would do a prequel type show like an in the beginning
Agree!!terr
No Voight is the heart of the show he makes PD. Jay is great but he was never that dude though. If you watch it without him then you were never a PD fan anyways.
Halstead is their best character and he’s leaving?????? That’s no bueno. Are we supposed to tune in for the others? Umm..
Since when was he ever their best character? Voight’s always been the best character of the entire show and Jay was only 3rd popular when Sophia was still on there.
There is literally no realistic scenario where he abandons Hailey…. unless it’s in death. He definitely getting killed off.
There’s his time as a ranger they could have him get drafted back in and that could be a reason to leave Hailey but I think thats the only thing that make sense or kill him off
I thought of that as well, but they did that with Mouse. I’m hoping they don’t use lazy storytelling.
I agree
There’s his military background
I don’t watch this show but its my understanding the actor/and character are very popular. Same goes for Kelli Giddish/her character on SVU-very popular. I don’t understand what is behind NBC’s decision to get rid of 2 very popular people from 2 very popular, highly rated series?
There has been no evidence that they got rid of Jesse, it’s all just fan speculation.
Maybe he chose to leave? Maybe after 10 years he’d had enough & wanted to do something different.
Fans want to believe there’s more to it; so they can blame someone for the loss of their favorite character. If it’s his own decision they will have to blame him himself and they don’t want to do that. If anything it means how important this character is to so many; they really don’t want to lose him. For actors (like you said) it’s only natural to move on.
I completely understand being upset about losing your favourite character however it’s got to the point that they are abusing & harrassing other cast members, demanding the show be cancelled & behaving like spoilt brats.
That fandom has done nothing but embarrass themselves.
This show has & will go one, yes it will be different, but there is a new character to get to know, Atwater is critically underused, maybe there is more time for them now.
The eternal Voight/Halstead faux angst that went nowhere was getting boring…
IKR! I hate it when people do that as they did it when Erin left the show and you still have some Sophia Bush who hate Upton because she replaced her.
I’ve watched Chicago Fire and Chicago PD for years and know the difference in statements when actors leave on their own accords and when they get kicked out/killed off. For instance, Monica left on her own accord to pursue other opportunities and her statement said that. On the other hand, Jesse’s statement never mentions he is leaving for personal reasons or work, he just thanks everyone. If there isn’t a reason as to why you’re leaving in the statement I take it as you were let go.
Honestly it proves nothing, it’s all fan speculation and disbelief. You are interpreting words to fit your own bias. Perhaps he will say more when his final show airs?
Whichever it is the harassment & abuse of the remaining cast, NBC, Wolf Entertainment, random twitter media accounts is kinda sad & pathetic.
No the show need Jesse
I agree. I still miss AL. I don’t understand getting rid of the characters that make the show. As soon as he’s gone, so am I.
me too w/ Al. I had thot it was his age ie hair Ya right. but no they wrote him out. N just before Erin. Jinn I really liked too.
I still miss Al Too.
Guys it’s a show and people move on to different things in life. The show has been around for 10 years you can’t expect the show to keep every single character around that long. Grow up and stop living in a fantasy world.
Can’t wait for the new season. Bring it on.
Not in the least bit! Not sure if I can continue to watch without him. I love his character on the show
I’m leaving when Jesse does
Not interested in watching without Jay. Love Hank and Trudy. But without Jay and the dynamic he has with Hank the show is a little boring. So unless the others suddenly change … I don’t think it will be as interesting. The hate/love relationship is what makes it so interesting
I totally agree. Hank and Jay keep it interesting. Without Jay, it will be a little boring.
Will miss Jesse / Jay very much, Chicago PD will not be the same without him !!!!!!
Hope he dies. He was never a team player always judging others always an insufferable hypocrite preaching rules he himself broke when it suited him. Him dying in the line would be a proper swan song for him.
Jealous much?!? Lol… You’re describing Haley….Hanks little chip….🙄
Who was it again that got Marcus West killed because he was so sure he murdered two kids? Wasn’t Hailey or Voight it was Halstead. He dies he can at least dies believing he’s the hero he never was. I know won’t respond because you don’t want to admit your white washing how much of a malignant narcissist Halstead is.
malignant? been reading too much on that lol. But he definitely was world’s worst undercover I always eondered why they kept using him. Like.
I won’t respond or argue because you’re throwing the term narcissist around and you have no idea what you are talking about AND it’s a tv show and this debate is STUPID …move on dude….life is happening out in the real world. Live hard have a great one!!
Yet you replied first. No wonder you like Halstead so much. He embodies your sanctimonious hypocrisy and obliviousness to own your own shortcomings.
Oh, Dean, I am well aware of my shortcomings my mother takes care of that…I replied first bc I was bored…thanks, “mom”, for the cheap entertainment and the free analysis…🤣🤣
Hailey didn’t start acting like that until after the Roy Walton case. Jay and her changed characters after that point.
Ironic your name is jules when you’re junkless you start a fight and don’t know how to finish it. Blind to all the crap Halstead did because he’s half of a toxic ship. No wonder you defend him he’s you. A privileged entitled stuck up hypocrite.
I do hope they kill him off, not because I hate him or anything it’s just because I think if they end his chapter it’ll allow the show to heal much quicker in his absence.
I love this show have been watching it from the beginning but without Jay in it I
Will watch it anymore.
He will be missed I thought he would take the team over some day . He was a good guy.
I’ll miss Jesse but will certainly continue to be a faithful PD viewer. Jason Beghe/Hank Voight will always be the main draw for me and I enjoy his storyline involvements the most. Also adore Tracy/Hailey and she has my loyalty, too. Just don’t understand why fans get so angry and vindictive towards a show simply because their favorite character or actor leaves. Jesse will undoubtedly pop up onscreen in another role again very soon anyway!
It baffles me as well, the tantrums on twitter have been a sight to behold. It’s childish & disrespectful to Jesse, the cast & crew. For all we know he might have asked to leave.
This show, like most shows survive cast departures pretty well, might even bring new viewers in or viewers back who had gotten bored with it/him.
This is very upsetting news 😢😳🥹
I don’t want Jesse Lee Soffer aka Halstead to leave 😪 😪😪😪 This is such a big loss . He has My❤️ and I’m sure it’s going to affect others too !
Just PLEASE “Do Not Kill” him off !! “Is he running away with Kelli Giddish SVU”because she’s leaving too! 💔😪😭
My heart is already broken that he’s leaving, but this would kill me 💔😪😭😭
I absolutely Loveee Jesse/Halstead ❤️🥰🫶🏽
Ok they killed Alvin. Lindsey left for the FBI Antonio went south. When it comes to Jay leaving Haley. And the show building up for his exit unfortunately it has to be death by sickness. Either way Halstead will be missed. Been a strong bookend of the show
Oh C’mon people Halstead is an O.K. character but to say he’s the heart of the show and what makes it all work .. that’s just bonkers. I can think of four other characters that are definitely more interesting and without the bad decisions and whining of Halstead. But with that said Ill miss him too but far from a show stopper
When you look back at all his actions Halstead is a text book malignant narcissist. Every time he went off the rails breaking the very rules and protocols he preached which was quite often and inevitably got into trouble because of his own recklessness someone else always had to pull him out of it usually Voight a man he hated. He could have went to jail for getting Marcus West killed and when all was said and done and Voight covered for him Halstead still couldn’t even say thank you instead he judged Voight for ‘doing what I think you did’. Last few years he only got worse he still broke protocols when it suited him yet condemned others who did the exact same when Burgess was kidnapped by Roy Walton he ordered Ruzek like a dog and told him ‘not to do this’ rather than express sympathy for Ruzek’s situation knowing full well that had his precious blonde been in Burgess situation he’d be breaking rules too. Then when he does find out about Roy rather than make a case that Kim should know the guy who nearly killed her is dead and save her the trauma he turns it around and only makes it about his fourth ‘true love’ given his history with Lindsay his army wife from season 4 and that drug dealer he was with in season 5 one has to wonder about his motives. As for the protecting Voight thing was only because he wanted to keep Uptight out of jail nothing more had Hailey not been involved in the Roy situation Halstead no doubt would have served Voight up. Its no secret even back in season one he was stalking a suspect who had a restraining order against him. All that mattered to Halstead was he was the hero of his own mess.
like
Things like this and what happened with Casey leaving Chicago Fire make me wish they wouldn’t drag out will they/won’t they storylines for so incredibly long – couples get together just for one of the actors to leave shortly after, and it makes me feel like they just wasted viewers time with the whole thing.
Jay’s gone so am I won’t watch after he is gone very sad he makes the show .
Brenda
Chicago PD has been my all time show. Through pandemic every re-run I watched. Why is Jesse leaving such an amazing show at this time. The dynamics are all thrown off without him . I’ll miss him for sure, also mad.
Means he won’t die. It likely means that he will either re-inlist to the army, or he’ll get his own team somewhere else.