FBI: International is going to look different when season 4 premieres now that Jesse Lee Soffer is at the helm.
Luke Kleintank surprised fans in April when he announced season 3 would be his last as Fly Team leader Scott Forrester. “This decision is driven by my unwavering commitment to my family, whose love and well-being are paramount in my life,” Kleintank said in a statement at the time. “I’m profoundly thankful for the extraordinary cast and crew of the show, who have not only been colleagues but also a family away from home.”
When season 3 ended in May, Scott had disappeared into hiding and the fate of his team, especially at the leader position, was left unanswered.
Us Weekly confirmed in June that Soffer, who previously starred on Dick Wolf’s Chicago P.D. for 10 seasons, would be joining FBI: International, also created by Wolf.
The actor, however, won’t be reprising his role as Detective Jay Halstead, even though the One Chicago shows and the FBIs exist in the same universe.
Scroll down to learn more about FBI: International season 4 — including who Soffer is playing:
How Did Scott Forrester Leave the Series?
After going “dark” several episodes prior, Forrester’s (Kleintank) team learns during the season 3 finale that he is in Norway on a rescue mission to find his mother, former spy Angela Cassidy (Elizabeth Mitchell), who is believed to be a prisoner in the country.
Interim leader Brian Lange (Colin Donnell) allows the Fly Team to travel to Norway to help. The group assists in safely getting a woman (Teri Polo), who is believed to be Angela, away from her captors. They later learn that the woman is not Angela, but instead is a former military medic named Tess Chaplain who has been missing 18 months.
Tess eventually reveals that Forrester had located his mom and the two were on the lam. In the final moments of the episode, the Fly Team discovers that Forrester is hiding in Alaska but chooses not to tell anyone what they know.
What Happened During the Season 3 Finale?
During the covert mission in Norway, the Fly Team ruffled a few feathers and were arrested for illegally taking action in the country. To secure their freedom — and their jobs — the group uses Tess’ knowledge of Angela’s spy secrets as a bargaining chip.
Tess had a tattoo on her wrist that Angela gave her when they met (and fans learned about weeks earlier), but didn’t know it was the password to Angela’s CIA files, which is something both the U.S. government and the Norwegian authorities are excited to find. Before they hand over the password, the Fly Team makes sure they are all immune to any punishment and they get off scot-free.
Upon their return to Budapest, the Fly Team toasted to Forrester and spent the night celebrating their victory alongside his dog, Tank, who is still with them in Europe. Lange, meanwhile, told the group he would see them “down the road,” signifying his exit.
Which Cast Members Are Returning?
Carter Redwood and Vinessa Vidotto, who play Special Agent Andre Raines and Cameron Vo, respectively, will be back for season 4. Eva-Jane Willis, who joined the cast in 2022 as Europol Agent Megan “Smitty” Garretson is also set to return as is season 3 addition Christina Wolfe, who plays Special Agent Amanda Tate.
Who Is Jesse Lee Soffer Playing on Season 4?
Us confirmed in July that Soffer will portray Supervisory Special Agent Wesley “Wes” Mitchell on the upcoming season. Wes is described as “charming and rakish” with “impeccable and instincts unconventional tactics” that “fuel his drive to stop at nothing to achieve justice.”
What Has Jesse Lee Soffer Said About His Role?
“It’s a completely different role,” Soffer exclusively told Us of Wes ahead of the October premiere. “There’s more of, like, a reinvention of the show going on.” He promised “new energy” with “new dynamics” and “new relationships” this season.
The actor described his character as a cop from Los Angeles who have a “rougher” childhood that influences his work. Soffer noted that Wes also has a connection with Vo, having been her training officer years prior.
“Right off the bat it’ll be a little bit of, like, a feeling out process,” Soffer said, noting there will be “some butting of heads.”
Station 19’s Jay Hayden Joins the Cast
News broke in September 2024 that Hayden will have a recurring role in the second half of season 4. He will portray Tyler Booth, who is an “intelligent and charismatic agent in Budapest looking for assistance on a case,” according to Deadline.
What Is the Season 4 Premiere Story Line?
“The Fly Team is introduced to Supervisory Special Agent Wesley ‘Wes’ Mitchell when his partner is shot in Los Angeles and the suspects flee to Budapest, sending Mitchell overseas,” the official logline reads.
Soffer teased the premiere even more, telling Us that it’s “super jam packed and super intense.” He explained, “You meet this new guy and you’re like, ‘What is this whirlwind that is his life?’ And you’re instantly sucked into a crazy story.”
Soffer called the episode a “really fun ride,” that includes a “gnarly crew doing robberies in the states in California that end up in Europe.”
When Will ‘FBI: International’ Season 4 Premiere?
Season 4 of FBI: International will premiere on CBS Tuesday, October 15, at 9 p.m. ET. FBI season 7 kicks off the evening at 8 p.m. ET and FBI: Most Wanted season 6 begins at 10 p.m. ET.
