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CBS is developing a new law enforcement drama that hails from two “One Chicago” mainstays.
Variety has learned that CBS has opened a development room for the series, titled “Strike Force.” Matt Olmstead is writing and
executive producing the new series, while Jesse Lee Soffer will star and executive produce. Jerry Bruckheimer and KristieAnne Reed also executive produce via Jerry Bruckheimer TV. CBS Studios will produce.
The logline for the show states, “A battle-tested DEA agent (Soffer) returns home to Kansas City to lead a multi-agency strike force targeting the violent criminals now trying to exploit America’s heartland.”
The show is being developed to potentially launch during the 2027-2028 broadcast season.
Soffer is best known for his role as Senior Detective Jay Halstead in “Chicago PD,” which Olmstead co-created with Dick Wolf and on which he served as showrunner for four seasons. Soffer starred in the show for 10 seasons before departing. He and Olmstead then re-teamed on fellow Wolf Entertainment show “FBI: International” at CBS, with Soffer joining the show for its fourth and final season. Olmstead was a writer and executive producer on that series.
Soffer also appeared in both “Chicago Med” and “Chicago Fire” during his time with “Chicago PD,” as well as in a crossover with “Law & Order: SVU.” His other TV roles include “As the World Turns” and “Hatfields & McCoys.”
He is repped by UTA and Ethos Entertainment.
Olmstead has worked with Wolf extensively in his career. Including working on all three “One Chicago” shows (co-creating “Chicago PD,” “Chicago Med” and the short-lived “Chicago Justice”), he also co-created “Law & Order: Organized Crime” starring Christopher Meloni. His other TV credits include “NYPD Blue,” “Prison Break,” “Breakout Kings,” and “Stumptown.”
He is repped by WME and Goodman Genow.
CBS already has a number of projects in the works for the 2027-2028 season. Most recently, the broadcaster gave out a pilot order for the single-cam comedy “Hilda! (In Lights)” about a 70 year old who moves to New York to pursue her Broadway dreams.
