‘Chicago P.D.’: Jon Seda to Return for Season 5

Chicago P.D. is welcoming back a familiar face.

Former series star Jon Seda is set to return as Det. Antonio Dawson for the fifth season of the NBC cop drama, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

The news comes after the cancelation of Chicago Justice. Seda exited Chicago P.D. midway through season four to become a series regular on the spinoff, the fourth in Dick Wolf’s Chicago franchise. Onscreen, his character transferred from the Intelligence Unit to a slightly more stable job working as an investigator for the State’s Attorney’s Office.

“I’m a team player and I’m just glad to be part of this unique, unprecedented situation that’s happening here,” Seda told THR in October about making the move. However, the actor said he “absolutely” had hesitations about jumping from a fourth-year established series to a rookie entry.

“It’s unchartered waters,” said Seda. “It’s something that has really never been done before, so yeah, there are those questions, but I was quickly, quickly assured and I think Dick Wolf’s been doing this for awhile so I trust him.”

Chicago Justice was canceled in May after its 13-episode first season, leaving Seda’s future unclear. He first made his debut as Antonio in the third episode of flagship series Chicago Fire alongside Jason Beghe’s Hank Voight. Seda and Beghe recurred throughout season one before they made the leap to Chicago P.D., which launched midway through Chicago Fire’s second season.

The desire to keep Antonio, and thus Seda, in the fold is no surprise given the character’s close franchise ties. In addition to his history at CPD, Antonio is the older brother of Chicago Fire regular Monica Raymund’s Gabby Dawson and also has a romantic history with her fellow paramedic, Brett (Kara Killmer).

Seda also has ties with Wolf going back nearly two decades when the actor appeared on an episode of Law & Order as his Homicide: Life in the Street character during a two-show crossover. Seda starred on the latter NBC cop drama for the final two seasons and the wrap-up TV movie.

“It’s a pleasure to have Jon back on Chicago P.D.,” Wolf said Wednesday in a statement. “We have been working together for more than 20 years and I hope there are many more to come.”

The veteran actor returns to Chicago P.D. just as the procedural parts ways with another series regular: Sophia Bush, who exited after the season four finale. 

Behind the scenes, Chicago P.D. will boast a new showrunner this season in Rick Eid, who takes over for Matt Olmstead, who departed for a rich overall deal at ABC Studios after four seasons as showrunner. ER alum Eriq La Salle has also come onboard the drama as an exec producer and director for season five.

Chicago P.D., from Universal Television and Wolf Films, will hit its 100th episode this coming season.

Seda, whose other credits include Treme, The Pacific and Selena, is repped by APA and Morris Yorn.

Chicago P.D. returns Wednesday, Sept. 27, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.