Summary
FBI: Internationalis breaking new ground by havingChicago PD’s Jesse Lee Soffer join the cast as the new head of the Fly Team.FBI: Internationalseason 4 will feature Soffer as Wes Mitchell, the team’s leader replacing Scott Forrester (Luke Kleintank). His move to the FBI series happens two years after leavingChicago PDas Jay Halstead. Although both shows are part of theshared One Chicago universe, Mitchell has no connection to Halstead other than being played by the same actor.
This is not the first time that actors have jumped from one Dick Wolf Entertainment property to another.FBI’sJeremy Sisto and Alana de la Garza are bothLaw & Orderalums andFBI: Most Wantedreplaced Julian MacMahonwith Dylan McDermott, who had previously played Richard Wheatley onLaw & Order: Organized Crime. However, Soffer is the first character to go from playing a lead detective on one show to a leader on another, which is a risky move because viewers who watch both shows might continue to associate Soffer with his previous character.
FBI: International’s Chicago PD Casting Creates 1 Glaring Problem
FBI: International bringing in a Chicago P.D. alum as a series regular has created a big problem for the future of both Dick Wolf shows.
Soffer’s FBI: International Character Looks Exactly The Same As Chicago PD’s Halstead
The Producers Have Made No Effort To Differentiate The Two Physically
Since Jesse Lee Soffer plays both Halstead and Mitchell, there are bound to be some physical similarities. However, theFBI: Internationalseason 4 behind-the-scenes videofeaturing Soffer shows clearly that there are zero differences between the two characters when it comes to their appearances. Soffer’s hair could have been styled differently, or he could have lost the mustache (or conversely, grown a full beard), but this does not appear to have happened. Instead, Mitchell is physically identical to Halstead, making it easier to confuse the two characters.
Dylan McDermott also didn’t appear noticeably different from hisLaw & Order: Organized Crimecharacter, but since he was going from a villain to a hero, it was an easier transition.
While this may not seem like a big deal, it makes it more difficult for the segment of the audience that also watchesChicago PDto adjust to Soffer playing a different character onFBI: International.He may seem like Halstead with a different name to a sizable number of people watching the newest season ofFBI: International,especially since the two characters play similar roles within the organizations they work for. At best, this will be a distraction that will make it harder to follow the story or enjoy Soffer’s performance as Mitchell.
Why FBI: International Needs To Make Mitchell Different From Halstead
The Two Characters Are Already Similar, Increasing The Risk Of Confusion
Jesse Lee Soffer’sWes Mitchell represents the first time aOne Chicagoalum has taken a lead role in anFBIseries. This is different from other Dick Wolf Entertainment actors who have crossed over from one show to the next, as these actors played significantly different characters from the roles they were formerly known for. Thus,FBI: Internationalhas to tread carefully to avoid confusion, especially if Mitchell makes choices that are perceived as mistakes. It would hurt the show if the audience criticized Mitchell because they think his behavior is out of character for Halstead.
FBI: International mustmake Mitchell as different from Halstead as possible so that it is clear that this is a completely different character who should not be compared to the way Halstead behaved onChicago P.D,
Halstead was a detective who did his best to do the right thing. He was also Hank Voight’s right-hand during the final few years of his stint in Chicago PD. Meanwhile, Mitchell will be the leader of an elite FBI team. Thus, the two characters are similar enough that it would be easy to confuse them.FBI: Internationalmustmake Mitchell as different from Halstead as possible so that it is clear that he is a completely different character who should not be compared to the way Halstead behaved onChicago PD.
The moreFBI: Internationalcan differentiate Mitchell from Halstead, the easier it will be for the audience to make the transition. It will be helpful for the writers to lean into the characters' feelings about Mitchell replacing Forrester, as this will give Soffer’s new character plenty of opportunities to demonstrate who he is and ensure the audience that he is not a carbon copy of Halstead. Additionally, during these early scenes, Mitchell could mention aspects of his backstory that clearly differentiate him from Halstead, such as making it clear he was never in Bolivia and never worked with his ex-wife.
Instead, FBI: International season 4 needs to differentiate Mitchell from Halstead as soon as he arrives in Budapest so that Soffer can escape the shadow of his previous role.
While those audience members who also watchChicago PDmightfeel better aboutFBI: Internationalreplacing Forresternow that Jesse Lee Soffer is on board, it’s important the series resist the temptation to put Easter eggs into the new season referring to Halstead. In-jokes about Soffer’s earlier role could contribute to the sense that Mitchell and Halstead are the same characters, which would only lead to frustration and confusion. Instead,FBI: Internationalseason 4 needs to differentiate Mitchell from Halstead as soon as he arrives in Budapest so that Soffer can escape the shadow of his previous role.
FBI: International
Cast
FBI: International follows the elite agents of the FBI’s International Fly Team as they travel globally to protect Americans. The series focuses on their complex missions, navigating international law, and challenges posed by various jurisdictions, demonstrating the high-stakes nature of their work.
