CBS Expanding the FBI Universe: What’s Next for the Hit Franchise?

CBS is taking one of its biggest successes to the next level—FBI and its spin-offs are officially expanding. With the procedural franchise proving to be one of the network’s most-watched and critically praised series, CBS is making strategic moves to keep fans engaged with even more action, drama, and high-stakes investigations.

From FBI to FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International, the franchise has dominated primetime television, drawing millions of viewers each week. Now, CBS is looking to grow its FBI universe even further, which raises some exciting questions: What’s coming next? Will there be new spin-offs? And how will the expansion impact the existing shows?

Here’s everything we know so far about CBS’s plans to take its FBI franchise to the next level.

The Success of the FBI Franchise: Why CBS Wants More

Since its debut in 2018, *FBI

• has become one of CBS’s most reliable ratings juggernauts. Created by Dick Wolf, the mastermind behind the Law & Order and One Chicago franchises, FBI quickly established itself as a gripping procedural that blends intense criminal investigations with deep character-driven storytelling.

The success of the flagship series led to two successful spin-offs:

• FBI: Most Wanted (2020) – Focusing on high-stakes fugitive tracking, this series follows an elite team that hunts down the most dangerous criminals in America.
• FBI: International (2021) – Expanding the scope beyond U.S. borders, this show centers on the Fly Team, a group of elite agents tackling threats around the world.

With all three shows performing exceptionally well in ratings, it’s no surprise that CBS sees an opportunity to grow the franchise further. The demand for smart, action-packed procedural dramas remains high, and the FBI franchise has solidified its place in the network’s primetime lineup.

But what’s next?

New Spin-Offs: What Could Be Coming?

With CBS’s official push to expand the FBI franchise, speculation is already swirling about potential new spin-offs. Here are a few possible directions the network might take:

1. FBI: Cyber Crimes

With the rise of cyber warfare, hacking, and digital espionage, an FBI series dedicated to tackling high-tech crimes would make perfect sense. From tracking cyberterrorists to investigating online fraud and cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure, this spin-off could bring a modern, high-stakes edge to the franchise.

2. FBI: Undercover

An FBI series centered around deep-cover agents infiltrating criminal organizations would add a thrilling twist to the franchise. Think long-term undercover operations against drug cartels, human trafficking rings, and international crime syndicates—where every move could mean life or death.

3. FBI: Domestic Terrorism

Given current real-world concerns about homegrown threats, a series focusing on domestic terrorism investigations could add a powerful and timely angle to the franchise. This spin-off could follow agents working undercover to dismantle extremist cells and prevent large-scale attacks on American soil.

4. FBI: Cold Cases

A division dedicated to solving long-forgotten cases using cutting-edge forensic technology and fresh investigative techniques could add a unique flavor to the franchise. Unlike other FBI shows focusing on current crimes, this spin-off could delve into decades-old mysteries, bringing justice to victims who thought their cases would never be solved.

How Will the Expansion Impact Existing Shows?

While CBS is focusing on growth, it also has to ensure that expanding the FBI universe doesn’t dilute the impact of its current lineup. However, the network has experience successfully managing multiple interconnected series—just look at the NCIS and Chicago franchises.

1. More Crossovers

One of the biggest advantages of expanding the FBI franchise is the potential for more crossovers. Fans have already seen agents from different series working together on major cases, and with a larger universe, we could see even bigger multi-episode crossover events—similar to what One Chicago does on NBC.

2. Character Crossovers

With an expanded FBI world, there’s also an opportunity to move characters between shows. Just as the NCIS franchise has done in the past, characters from FBI, Most Wanted, and International could transition to new spin-offs, giving them fresh storylines while maintaining connections to the existing series.

3. Stronger Universe Building

Expanding the FBI franchise allows CBS to create a more interconnected universe, where cases, threats, and storylines span multiple shows. This could lead to deeper storytelling, long-term plot arcs, and shared villains that keep fans engaged across multiple series.

Why CBS Is Betting Big on Procedurals

CBS has long been the go-to network for procedural dramas. Shows like NCIS, Blue Bloods, and Criminal Minds have demonstrated that crime procedurals have enduring appeal, especially when paired with strong character development.

With the FBI franchise, CBS has tapped into a winning formula:

• Realistic Cases: Inspired by true events, the show presents high-stakes crimes with authenticity.
• Strong Ensemble Casts: Each series features compelling leads and dynamic team dynamics.
• Emotional Depth: While action-packed, the franchise doesn’t shy away from exploring the personal lives and struggles of its agents.

Expanding this universe ensures CBS maintains its dominance in the procedural drama space, keeping viewers engaged with fresh stories while capitalizing on the success of the existing shows.

What’s Next? CBS’s Strategy Moving Forward

With an official expansion on the horizon, CBS is expected to announce concrete details about new FBI projects soon. Some key things to look out for:

• Official Spin-Off Announcements: CBS may introduce new titles as early as the next TV season.
• Pilot Episodes for Testing: Like FBI: International, which first debuted as a backdoor pilot within FBI, future spin-offs may be introduced through crossover episodes.
• Casting Announcements: Will we see new stars join the FBI universe, or will existing characters transition into new roles?

Whatever direction CBS takes, it’s clear that the FBI franchise is only getting bigger.

Final Thoughts: The Future of the FBI Franchise

The FBI universe has become one of CBS’s most valuable assets, delivering compelling crime stories, intense action, and powerful character arcs. With the franchise set to expand, fans can expect even more edge-of-your-seat drama, thrilling investigations, and the same high-stakes storytelling that made FBI, Most Wanted, and International such massive hits.

As CBS prepares for the next chapter in the FBI saga, one thing is certain: the franchise is here to stay, and the best may be yet to come. Whether through exciting new spin-offs, epic crossovers, or deeper character storylines, the FBI franchise is poised to dominate primetime television for years to come.

What kind of FBI spin-off would you like to see? Let us know your thoughts!