CBS has officially announced the end of two popular series within its FBI franchise: FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International. The shows will conclude after six and four seasons, respectively, as part of the network’s broader restructuring plan for the 2025–2026 broadcast season.
Reasons for Cancellation
Despite maintaining steady viewership—FBI: Most Wanted averaging about 6.5 million viewers per episode and FBI: International attracting roughly 6.53 million viewers—both shows experienced a decline of approximately 10% compared to their previous seasons. This decline placed them behind other CBS staples such as NCIS, Blue Bloods, and Tracker in overall ratings.
Additionally, production costs played a significant role in CBS’s decision. FBI: International was filmed extensively across Europe, leading to high expenses related to travel and location rentals. Meanwhile, FBI: Most Wanted required shooting at various locations throughout the United States, further increasing the budget demands.
What’s Next? Introducing ‘FBI: CIA’
To fill the void, CBS is developing a new spin-off titled FBI: CIA. This series will focus on the collaboration between an FBI agent and a CIA operative working within a special counterterrorism task force based in New York City. The show is set to debut through a backdoor pilot episode embedded within the seventh season of the original FBI series, scheduled for spring 2025.
Fan Reaction
The announcement has sparked disappointment among fans of the canceled shows. Many expressed frustration on social media, feeling that CBS prematurely ended two beloved series in favor of an untested spin-off, leaving loyal viewers dissatisfied.
Future of the Franchise Characters
At this time, CBS has not confirmed whether characters from FBI: Most Wanted or FBI: International will cross over into the original FBI series or the upcoming FBI: CIA. However, given the franchise’s history of interconnected storylines and character appearances, such developments remain a possibility.
