Chicago PD boss shares thrilling update about Upton's exit

It's been a rollercoaster off-season for Hailey Upton (Tracy Spiridakos). The Chicago PD veteran was confirmed to be leaving in season 11, which raises lots of questions about her marriage to Halstead (Jesse Lee Soffer), and now, PD showrunner Gwen Sigan has dropped a bombshell about when the character is leaving.

Sigan recently sat down for a discussion with TV Line, and revealed that Hailey Upton will be around for a lot more episodes than fans may have initially thought. In fact, the character will be present for most of season 11:

"“[Tracy] gave us a lot of leeway, which is a very kind thing to do, so we have a full season with her. We’ll have plenty of time to come up with a very satisfying ending for her character.""

Hailey Upton wil appear in most season 11 episodes

Consider us pleasantly surprised. Generally speaking, One Chicago tends to write off its characters early in a season, barring any mid-season emergencies on the part of an actor. Jesse Lee Soffer left only a few episodes into season 10, and Chicago Fire star Alberto Rosende is slated to leave in the upcoming season 12 premiere.

The fact that Tracy Spiridakos agreed to appear in the bulk of the season is an exciting one, as it means the writing team will be given the opportunity to do her character justice. There's a lot she still has to contend with, the most notable being her uncertain future with her husband, Halstead.

Chicago PD boss casts doubt on Halstead cameo

Gwen Sigan was also asked about the chances of seeing Halstead return at some point during season 11, but the showrunner was much more cagey about that topic. She revealed that there is nothing in the works yet, but there easily could be down the line:

" “[There are] no plans to bring him back at this point for anything, but I never say never.""

Whether or not Halstead makes an appearance, its clear that his character will play a big role in whatever Upton decides to do, and why she ultimately decides to leave the IU. We cannot wait to find out what happens.