FBI: Most Wanted killed off the character of Supervisory Special Agent Jess LaCroix, following the actor’s decision to leave the series, which was announced in January 2022.
CBS’ FBI: Most Wanted is one of the channel’s newest flagship, long-form, crime procedural drama series. As such, the series most likely hopes that the cast members of the series will stay in it as long as possible, as this establishes consistency for the viewing audience.
In light of this, the loss of Supervisory Special Agent Jess LaCroix in season three was a blow to the series, though actor, Julian McMahon, made the decision to leave the series. Officially exiting the show in March 2022, McMahon made the announcement in January 2022.
Julian McMahon on his decision to leave FBI: Most Wanted
In January 2022, Julian McMahon released a public statement confirming that he had made the decision to leave FBI: Most Wanted as the character of Jess LaCroix. His official statement read:
“Over the past few months, the producers of ‘FBI: Most Wanted’ and I have had discussions about my departure from the show in favor of additional creative pursuits and the transition of my character Jess LaCroix. These ongoing conversations have given us an opportunity to orchestrate a seamless and productive way for me to leave the show. I would like to express the gratitude and admiration I have had working with Dick Wolf and Peter Jankowski. I’m extremely proud of the work we have done together and put the development of this show, and my character Jess, at the top of my professional experience list.”
Why did they kill Jess on FBI: Most Wanted?
Julian McMahon entrusted the writers with his exit storyline on FBI: Most Wanted, and they ensured that his exit storyline was compelling and emotionally charged.
During season three’s fourteenth episode, titled “Shattered”, the team was racing against the clock to find and protect abuse victim, Lucy Carver, from her drug addict, predatorial boyfriend, Harley Ross.
The episode comes to a point when Lucy is found and it is discovered that she is protecting the daughter she had with Ross, though he did not know about her or that he was a father.
Jess is killed at the hospital parking in an effort to protect Lucy from Harley who started shooting at her. Special Agents Sheryll Barnes and Ivan Ortiz attempted to revive their superior, but by the time they arrived, it was too late, and he had died.
Jess LaCroix’s exit was compelling, as the writing team drew parallels between his last case on the series and his already established back story.
Jess’ girlfriend, Sarah, was also an abuse victim at the hands of her ex-husband. This was the reason that the Special Supervisory Special Agent’s was so invested in solving the case before Harley discovered Lucy’s location, and why he was willing to take the bullet for her.
Jess’ death in the story meant that there was no possibility that Julian McMahon would return to the series in the future. This decision was painstakingly made by the producers and writers of the show.
David Hudgins on conceptualising Jess LaCroix’s exit
After Julian McMahon’s exit, executive producer, David Hudgins, spoke to Deadline about developing the storyline for the actor’s exit, stating:
“Everything was on the table. Ultimately, in the writers room, we kept coming back to this notion that the premise of this show is Most Wanted — we’re chasing the worst of the worst, the most dangerous of the dangerous. Inherently in that line of work, is the constant risk that you can either get injured or killed in the line of duty. And we just decided that true to the premise of the show, this was what was going to happen to Jess— he gets killed in the line of duty.”
FBI: Most Wanted emphatic that Julian McMahon’s exit was amicable
David Hudgins was also emphatic that Julian McMahon’s exit was all-round emotional on the final day of shooting. Hudgins shared:
“We were in a parking lot on Roosevelt Island in New York, in the heart of the city, which is appropriate for the death of that character. It was just extremely emotional for everybody but we all stepped up and got it done in a great way.”
Wolf Entertainment on Julian McMahon’s exit
Wolf Entertainment is the production company that produces FBI: Most Wanted.
Following McMahon’s exit announcement in January 2022, television executive and acclaimed television producer, Dick Wolf also shared his message of gratitude for McMahon, stating:
“We are saddened to see Julian leave. His portrayal of agent Jess LaCroix has been a key factor in the success of FBI: Most Wanted. We will miss him, and we wish him the best in his next chapter.”