The world of One Chicago is colliding with the high-stakes universe of FBI. In a move that has thrilled fans and industry insiders alike, Chicago P.D. stars Tracy Spiridakos and Jesse Lee Soffer are set to join Tom Ellis in CBS’s forthcoming FBI spin-off — a CIA-driven espionage drama already positioning itself as one of the most ambitious television launches of 2025.
Tentatively titled FBI: Classified Operations, the series will mark the next expansion of Dick Wolf’s long-running procedural empire. While FBI and its sister shows (International and Most Wanted) focus on domestic and global law enforcement, this new chapter moves into the murky world of covert intelligence — a territory where loyalty is currency and truth is expendable.
According to production sources, Ellis will play Sam Bennett, a former MI6 operative recruited by the CIA after a disastrous mission left him disillusioned with traditional spycraft. Spiridakos is set to portray Alex Ward, a brilliant but impulsive field agent specializing in psychological operations, while Soffer will take on the role of Mark Donovan, a decorated ex-FBI liaison now embedded deep within CIA command. “They bring authenticity and emotional weight that only years in Chicago P.D. could create,” said a CBS executive close to the project. “Viewers already know how well they work together — this series takes that chemistry global.”
The project represents a creative reunion for Spiridakos and Soffer, whose on-screen relationship as Hailey Upton and Jay Halstead captivated Chicago P.D. audiences for nearly seven seasons. Their pairing in FBI: Classified Operations promises a new layer of intensity — this time swapping squad-room interrogations for international spy games.
Filming is expected to begin in early 2025 across multiple European locations, including Budapest and Prague, with FBI franchise veteran Rick Eid serving as showrunner and Dick Wolf returning as executive producer. The series will feature a blend of serialized intrigue and case-of-the-week storytelling, offering viewers both character-driven drama and cinematic action sequences.
Industry analysts predict the crossover of the Chicago P.D. duo with Ellis’s global star power — following his acclaimed run on Lucifer — could deliver one of the strongest premieres in CBS’s upcoming slate. Early internal buzz compares the show’s tone to Homeland meets The Bourne Identity, with Wolf’s trademark procedural realism anchoring the spectacle. For Spiridakos and Soffer, the move signifies a bold new phase after exiting Chicago P.D. in 2024. It’s a chance to evolve beyond the badge, exploring characters navigating the ethical gray zones of espionage instead of urban policing.
