CBS is expanding its highly successful “FBI” television franchise with the development of a brand-new spinoff titled “FBI: CIA”, which is expected to premiere during the 2025–2026 broadcast season. The announcement marks a bold new direction for the franchise, promising to bring fresh storytelling possibilities by focusing on the Central Intelligence Agency and its collaboration—and occasional conflict—with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
While the original FBI series centers around domestic law enforcement and federal criminal investigations, FBI: CIA will delve into the shadowy and high-stakes world of international espionage, covert operations, and national security. According to insiders, the spinoff aims to portray the complexities and tensions that arise when intelligence-gathering missions intersect with law enforcement objectives, often blurring the lines between patriotism, ethics, and personal loyalty.
CBS executives have not yet announced casting decisions or specific plot details, but the network has confirmed that the series is currently in development, with pre-production expected to begin later this year. Given the franchise’s history of tightly scripted procedural drama, viewers can expect a blend of suspenseful cases, character-driven stories, and timely geopolitical themes.
The decision to expand the “FBI” universe comes on the heels of CBS’s recent cancellation of two other spinoffs, FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International, which will not return for new seasons. Industry analysts suggest that the network’s move signals a strategic pivot toward a new thematic focus—one that reflects the evolving nature of global threats and the increasing importance of intelligence work in law enforcement narratives.
If successful, FBI: CIA could usher in a new era for the franchise and offer viewers a deeper look into the world of intelligence and national defense, while maintaining the fast-paced, emotionally resonant storytelling that has become a hallmark of the “FBI” brand. Fans of the franchise and newcomers alike are eagerly awaiting more information as CBS prepares to launch what could be its most ambitious spinoff yet.
