CBS has officially greenlit a brand-new drama series titled “CIA”, a spinoff of its successful FBI franchise, set to premiere in Fall 2025. With FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International concluding after their final seasons, this new series marks a fresh chapter for the franchise and an ambitious expansion into the world of international intelligence.
At the center of CIA is Tom Ellis, best known for his charismatic performance as Lucifer Morningstar in Lucifer. In a dramatic turn, Ellis plays a brilliant yet rebellious CIA operative who is reluctantly paired with a by-the-book FBI agent. Together, they’ll tackle global threats that require both street-level instincts and bureaucratic finesse.
🎬 A Bold Creative Direction
Unlike previous spinoffs in the FBI universe, CIA was not launched via a backdoor pilot. Instead, CBS handed the project a straight-to-series order — a move that underscores the network’s confidence in the premise and its creative team.
The show is being developed by David Hudgins, former FBI: Most Wanted showrunner, and produced by Dick Wolf’s Wolf Entertainment, in partnership with Universal Television and CBS Studios.
“CIA opens up new storytelling opportunities,” Hudgins said in a statement. “We’re taking everything people love about the FBI brand — the action, the urgency, the personal stakes — and expanding it into a global, high-risk world.”
The series will explore not only missions overseas but also the political and ethical conflicts that arise when CIA and FBI philosophies collide.
🕵️♂️ Character Dynamics at the Core
At the heart of the show is the volatile partnership between Ellis’ character — a confident, unfiltered CIA field agent — and a still-unnamed FBI counterpart who is grounded, methodical, and bound by rules.
This dynamic promises to deliver both sharp dialogue and intense emotional moments as the pair are forced to work together despite clashing ideologies.
Casting for the FBI agent and supporting roles is still underway, but insiders suggest the chemistry between the two leads will be crucial to the show’s long-term appeal.
🌍 International Scope, Franchise DNA
While CIA will maintain the procedural format fans expect from Dick Wolf’s universe, it will embrace a more international lens, with storylines involving espionage, rogue nations, cyber warfare, and political double-dealing.
Producers have stated that CIA will have a distinct tone — edgier, more morally complex, and less reliant on courtroom resolution or local law enforcement. That said, the show will still honor the signature pacing and structure that define FBI, Chicago P.D., and Law & Order.
Though the show is technically a spinoff, it will stand alone, meaning no prior knowledge of FBI is required. Still, occasional crossover cameos or references remain a possibility.
“We’re not planning heavy crossovers,” Hudgins told Cineblend. “But we love the idea of building a world where these characters may occasionally cross paths.”
📺 Strategic Move for CBS
The launch of CIA comes at a critical time for CBS. With Most Wanted and International wrapping, the network was seeking a fresh way to continue capitalizing on the popularity of the FBI brand while adapting to evolving audience interests.
Pairing CIA with the flagship FBI series on Monday nights is a strategic play to dominate the crime drama slot once again — especially with NCIS also shifting to a new spinoff of its own.
