Jesse Lee Soffer, known for his role as Detective Jay Halstead in NBC’s Chicago P.D., is set to return to the Dick Wolf TV universe as a series regular for Season 4 of CBS’ FBI: International. Fans can expect to see Soffer stepping into the shoes of a new character, filling the void left by Luke Kleintank’s exit.
Kleintank, who played Supervisory Special Agent Scott Forrester, bid farewell to the series last season. As per Eva-Jane Willis, it won’t be until Season 4 that viewers see how the team manages without their leader.
Right now we’re in the midst of it in Season 3, and obviously, I can’t say much about the way in which his character will depart
, Willis mentioned ahead of one of Kleintank’s final episodes.
In an intriguing twist, while #OneChicago and #TheFBIs share a universe—highlighted by Tracy Spiridakos’ Hailey Upton crossover in 2020—Soffer is not reprising his role as Halstead. Instead, he will introduce us to an entirely new character. The anticipation is high for this fresh narrative direction.
Soffer’s departure from Chicago P.D. in October 2022 was heartfelt. Describing his decision, he shared,
I really wanted to grow and expand… if I signed up again, it would have been for another three years. I would have turned 40 on the show. I thought, ‘You know what? It’s time to take a risk.’
Kleintank’s own exit stemmed from personal commitments. In April, he stated,
[It] is driven by my unwavering commitment to my family, whose love and well-being are paramount in my life
. His character’s arc concluded with Scott Forrester going AWOL and synching up with his fugitive mother, Angela Cassidy.
Soffer brings significant experience to his new role in FBI: International, where Carter Redwood and Vinessa Vidotto also star. Luke Kleintank had portrayed Scott Forrester since Season 1 of the Budapest-based procedural which revolves around a federal team neutralizing international threats against Americans.
