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Jesse Lee Soffer is actually replacing ANOTHER One Chicago star on FBI

It's a small world, especially when the world is produced by Dick Wolf.

By Danilo Castro

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Sandals Emerald Bay Celebrity Golf Weekend - Day Three, Celebrity Golf Tournament / Dimitrios Kambouris/GettyImages
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The FBI franchise and the One Chicago franchise have a lot in common. For one they're produced by TV icon Dick Wolf. For another, they're set in the same universe and have had crossovers in the past. The most interesting connection, however, and the most recent, is that FBI: International has cast two actors in lead roles who have previously held down spots on One Chicago.

The obvious example is Jesse Lee Soffer. The actor left Chicago PD after a decade of playing Jay Halstead, and recently signed on to play a central, original role on FBI: International. The details of his character have not yet been revealed, but Variety was adamant that he was not reprising Halstead.

Jesse Lee Soffer is joining the FBI: International cast

Chicago P.D. - Season 9
CHICAGO P.D. -- "The One Next to Me" Episode 903 -- Pictured: Jesse Lee Soffer as Jay Halstead -- (Photo by: Lori Allen/NBC) /

Soffer is stepping into a vacancy left by Luke Kleintank. The latter played agent Scott Forrester from the pilot, and departed a few episodes before the season 3 finale. Soffer is poised to be the long term replacement, but before producers landed on him, they tried out another One Chicago alum named Colin Donell.

Donell is best known for playing Dr. Connor Rhodes on five seasons of Chicago Med. He was brought in as a guest star during the final two episodes of season 3, in an effort to smooth the transition from Kleintank's character to Soffer's. Donell played National Security Agency liaison Brian Lange, and it was initially left unclear if he would be coming back for season 4.

Soffer is taking over for Chicago Med alum Colin Donell

Chicago Med - Season 3
CHICAGO MED -- "The Tipping Point" Episode 320 -- Pictured: Colin Donnell as Dr. Connor Rhodes -- (Photo by: Elizabeth Sisson/NBC) /

Based on the recent casting of Soffer, it does not seem likely. That being said, Donell was thrilled to rejoin the Dick Wolf universe and play a different kind of character. "To find myself in a city like Budapest and shooting," he told TV Insider. "There were so many times that we were in Oslo that I would just be pinching myself that this is what I get to do for a living. It’s spectacular. It’s so cool."

Three makes a pattern, and frankly, we're curious to see if FBI: International will cast another One Chicago alum in the future!

Next. S. Chicago PD just pulled off an insane cameo. dark

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