The FBI franchise has become a huge staple of the CBS primetime lineup. The three procedurals created by Dick Wolf — the mastermind behind NBC’s trio of One Chicago shows — have delivered successful ratings on Tuesday nights and given CBS a property to rival its longtime NCIS universe. FBI, FBI: Most Wanted, and the latest spinoff, FBI: International, are bringing in plenty of viewers and seem like they’ll be going for years.
However, they’re also experiencing the same cast turnover that’s happened with the NCIS shows. Just like Mark Harmon departed the original NCIS (although the door was left open for a cameo in the future), FBI: Most Wanted star Julian McMahon stated that he was stepping down from the series after nearly three seasons playing team leader Jess LaCroix. Why did McMahon leave the series, and what did it mean for FBI: Most Wanted‘s future?
Updated by Jordan Iacobucci on May 29, 2024: The original FBI series has received an epic renewal, confirming that it will be on the air through its ninth season and potentially beyond. Its spinoff series are doing particularly well also, with FBI: International returning for a fourth season and FBI: Most Wanted coming back for a sixth.
Most Wanted has undergone several major changes over its early seasons, including losing its main star, Julian McMahon, whose character was killed off at the end of Season 3. Why did McMahon leave the series, and how has it affected the cast since then?
