CHICAGO P.D.’s LaRoyce Hawkins on Atwater’s Farewell to Upton and What’s in Store for Season 12

CHICAGO P.D.’s Intelligence team had a big loss in the season 11 finale—Upton (Tracy Spiridakos) opted to leave Chicago to find a fresh start. While viewers saw Upton inform Voight (Jason Beghe) about her decision, the rest of the team learned about the move off-screen.

“In my mind, that goodbye, it was tough, but we found a way to enjoy it,” LaRoyce Hawkins, who plays Atwater, tells Give Me My Remote. “[I imagine] I did my best to make her laugh. The last thing I wanted to see was a big smile [before she left]. That’s kind of how me and Tracy were, anyway. We did our best to try to infuse our authentic friendship into our characters; they didn’t always write it, but we did our best to find it when we could. And it’s tough. The same way we left in real life is the same way we left on the show, in my head—last time we saw her, there was a big smile.”

Production has officially started on the show’s 12th season (which premieres Wednesday, September 25 on NBC) and Hawkins teases in the opening hour “there’s a lot of Voight.” 

“Voight’s gotta set the tone,” he notes. “And I think we’re gonna see a pace that we haven’t really seen before.”

As for Atwater, he’s “doing his best to be there for Voight,” Hawkins previews. “I think their relationship has grown so authentically—you know they learn from each other. Atwater really wants to have Voight’s back, but also let him know that he’s capable of stepping up into whatever role and responsibility that Voight needs.”

“I think right now, we’ve watched Voight lose people, in his life and from the unit,” he continues. “So I think Atwater just wants to be there, wants to be that bridge that is there. An invisible bridge; not in your way, but they’re just in case you fall.”

With all of the changes in the unit, Atwater has his eye on professional advancement. “Atwater wants to be a detective,” Hawkins says. “ So he’s doing whatever he’s got to do in order to make that work. However he can show he has the skills and wherewithal and leadership capabilities to do that.”

And to that point, Hawkins hopes that might enable a bit of growth this season for his character. “Atwater is really good at holding on—and very bad at letting go,” he points out. “That’s why we’ve seen Atwater in situations we’ve seen him in. Most of the time, he gives himself such a hard time because he doesn’t know how to let it go.” 

“What I’m excited to see is when you start to learn how to embrace letting go more,” he continues. “I think he’s built to hold on, so it wouldn’t feel right to change that.  But I do think it behooves Atwater to learn how to let go.”

CHICAGO P.D., Wednesdays, 10/9c, NBC

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