While the cancellation of FBI: International and FBI: Most Wanted left many fans disappointed, CBS quickly reassured its audience that the FBI universe is far from over. In June, the network officially announced a new addition to the franchise: CIA, a fresh spinoff that will explore the intersection of the FBI and the Central Intelligence Agency.
In a major casting move, British actor Tom Ellis, best known for his charismatic lead role in Lucifer, has been tapped to headline the new series. He will portray a brilliant but rule-breaking CIA case officer who is forced to work alongside a by-the-book FBI agent. The unlikely duo will form part of a special task force focused on domestic and international counterterrorism operations.
Unlike previous FBI spinoffs, which often debuted via “backdoor pilot” episodes in the parent series, CIA is receiving a straight-to-series order, signaling CBS’s strong confidence in the new project. Industry sources say the original plan was to introduce CIA characters in an episode of FBI Season 6, but casting delays—particularly in securing Ellis—caused the network to pivot to a direct rollout.
The series is being developed by veteran showrunner David Hudgins, who previously helmed FBI: Most Wanted. Executive production will be handled by Law & Order mastermind Dick Wolf, continuing his long-running partnership with CBS through Wolf Entertainment.
CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach described CIA as “a bold evolution of the FBI franchise,” promising a more cinematic tone, darker themes, and international storylines. “We’re taking the storytelling into new territory, while still delivering the high-stakes suspense and character drama that FBI fans expect,” she said during the network’s Upfronts presentation.
The casting of Tom Ellis has generated buzz online, with fans excited to see the actor in a completely different role following his supernatural stint in Lucifer. Early promotional material hints at a complex character dynamic, where moral ambiguity and agency rivalry will play central roles in the narrative.
Set to premiere in fall 2025, CIA is expected to anchor a new programming block alongside the original FBI series. Whether the new show can match the success of its predecessors remains to be seen, but CBS is clearly betting big on the continuing appeal of the FBI brand.
