Tracy Spiridakos books first new acting role after leaving Chicago PD

We all miss Hailey Upton. The character proved to be one of the most consequential in Chicago PD history, whether it be through her presence as a solo investigator, or her relationships with people like Hank Voight (Jason Beghe) or ex-husband Jay Halstead (Jesse Lee Soffer).

Upton's departure at the end of season 11 was tough on fans. It was hard to imagine a world in which the show would continue without her. Fortunately, PD has been able to do just that, while the actress who played Upton, Tracy Spiridakos, has turned to the big screen.

Tracy Spiridakos will star in the thriller After

The actress took to Instagram on November 26 to confirm that she will be appearing in a new film titled After. "I’ve been waiting to tell you guys about this one," she wrote. "This was such an insanely talented group of people, I feel really lucky to have worked alongside them."

After, according to Deadline, is an indie thriller about a retired true-crime podcaster, who is forced to utilize his investigating skills to track down his disappeared sister. Crime, victims disappearing, and a tense investigation are all things that Spiridakos is well acquainted with after nearly a decade as part of PD's IU team.

The outlet did not reveal who Spiridakos would be playing, but she will appearing alongside a talented cast of actors that includes Andy Richter, Kevin Pollak, Karren Karagulian, Melia Kreiling and Dónall Ó Héalai. Spiridakos made it clear that she had an absolute ball working alongside these actors, and is thrilled for fans to see the final product:

"We laughed, we cried but mainly we had a f*cking blast. I can’t wait to see it. I can’t wait for you guys to see it."

Spiridakos wanted to challenge herself as an actor

Tracy Spiridakos claimed that part of the reason she wanted to move on from Chicago PD was that she wanted to challenge herself as a performer. She wanted to stretch her talents in roles that were different than the steadfast Upton, as she told Variety.

"I was ready for more," she asserted. "Eventually, you know the character so well, there's not much that can shift or transform. I really wanted to grow and expand, and we've only got this one trip." The actress did not slam the door shut on returning to PD in the future, but we're excited to see that she is finding roles that challenge her so soon after leaving the One Chicago bubble.