Chicago PD star Patrick John Flueger has reacted to Jesse Lee Soffer's upcoming return to the franchise as a director.
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Jesse, who starred as Jay Halstead since the first season, appeared in his final episode in October but will be returning to direct episode 16, which will air in 2023.
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Patrick, who plays Adam Ruzek in the series, confessed that he was nervous for his friend and former co-star to direct.
"When you work this closely and you become that close with somebody after a decade, they know you pretty well," he told NBC Insider. "So I'm excited for him to direct, but I’m also a little nervous for him to direct cause I don't know if I’m gonna be able to get through things without laughing. Because I'm embarrassed that Jesse can see right through me like I'm a transparent ghost."
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He added: "He's got incredible ideas, he's able to offer them to actors and to the writers and to camera people in a way that displays diplomacy that I think you have to have when you're directing TV that maybe you don't have to have when you're directing movies."
© NBCJesse will return to a direct episode 16
Jesse announced his exit from the show back in August. In a statement to Deadline, he said: "I want to thank the incredible fans for their unwavering support during the past ten years and want to express my deepest gratitude to Dick Wolf and everyone at Wolf Entertainment, Peter Jankowski, Matt Olmstead, Derek Haas, Michael Brandt, Rick Eid, Gwen Sigan, NBC, Universal Television, my fellow castmates and our incredible crew.
"To create this hour drama week after week has been a labor of love by everyone who touches the show. I will always be proud of my time as Det. Jay Halstead."
© NBCPatrick confessed he was nervous for Jesse to direct an episode
Taking to his Twitter, he added: "This is sad but true. Just want all the fans to know how grateful I am. You guys are why we do it! It has been an honor. Love you all."
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