TV can lastly get began on what stays of the 2023-2024 TV season now that the SAG-AFTRA strike has ended, however the wait remains to be on for brand new episodes. Meaning NBC persevering with to rotate by way of repeats of One Chicago on Wednesday nights because the 2023 TV schedule winds down, and the most recent was the episode of Chicago P.D. that introduced former sequence common Jesse Lee Soffer again as a director. Soffer spoke with CinemaBlend in regards to the episode again in March, and the rerun had me flashing again to his feedback on directing Tracy Spiridakos and Jason Beghe.
Jesse Lee Soffer left P.D. as Jay Halstead after the third episode of Season 10. He did not keep away for lengthy, although, as he was again on his previous stomping grounds simply months later to direct Episode 16 of Season 10, known as “Deadlocked.” The Intelligence Unit needed to face a ticking clock and difficult authorized state of affairs when a juror was compromised, and Soffer had rather a lot to do in his directorial debut, though he did share that there have been perks from years of taking part in Halstead.
After I spoke with the actor-turned-director in March, I famous that his final two large scenes as Halstead on P.D. had been with Tracy Spiridakos as Upton and Jason Beghe as Voight, and requested what it was prefer to work with them particularly in his function as a director. Soffer shared:
I imply, easy, completely. , we’re a household. All of us love one another a lot, so it was nice. It was like, ‘Hey! All proper, we’re gonna play this sport now.’ All of us have such a shorthand, and we have all carried out such an excellent job for the final ten seasons, giving somebody an opinion, or making some beat work or come to life or elevating some facet of the script. In order that was pretty simple, to be taking part in that sport with them and go, ‘Hey, what if it is this? What about this concept? Do not forget about this.’ We have been doing that every one alongside, so it was easy.
Soffer solely had good issues to say about working along with his former co-stars in a complete new means for “Deadlocked.” The truth is, he went on to share that he was notably enthusiastic about spending time with the P.D. household once more when he got here again to direct, saying:
I used to be simply wanting ahead to hanging out with the forged and the crew. Doing the motion sequences, and attending to play in sort of a extra mental [way], to heavier scenes with the tone and attending to work with Jason. I really like appearing with Jason, and so attending to play with Jason and having conversations about what his character is considering and stuff like that. It is at all times rewarding. It is at all times enjoyable.
Jesse Lee Soffer additionally wasn’t simply lacking from the Chicago P.D. set from his final day of filming to the primary day of manufacturing on “Deadlocked.” He shadowed administrators on his previous present, and was on set when the forged was filming the milestone two hundredth episode. NBC truly not too long ago reaired the two hundredth episode, prompting me to revisit the Burzek feedback from Marina Squerciati and Patrick John Flueger that also make me snort.
Soffer finally didn’t return in entrance of the digital camera as Jay Halstead in Season 10, though he shared that he understands when followers would ask if he’d come again. It stays to be seen if he seems in Season 11, notably in mild of Tracy Spiridakos’ upcoming departure. Whereas the great ship Upstead wasn’t precisely crusing easily on the finish of Season 10, I am positive I am not the one one who’d prefer to see Halstead once more for Upton’s farewell.
Whereas not a lot has been confirmed about One Chicago’s return to tv, it is anticipated that Chicago Fireplace, Chicago P.D., and Chicago Med will purpose for a 13-episode TV season that kicks off within the early months of the brand new yr. For now, although, CBS is the one broadcast community with a full lineup of official dates on the 2024 TV schedule.
