CBS is expanding its FBI franchise with a new spinoff titled FBI: CIA, set to premiere in the 2025–2026 TV season. Unlike previous spinoffs, this series has been ordered directly to a full season without a pilot episode, reflecting CBS’s confidence in the concept and its alignment with the network’s strategic direction.
🔍 Overview of FBI: CIA
FBI: CIA will follow a dedicated, rule-abiding FBI agent and a street-smart CIA officer as they form a clandestine task force to combat domestic terrorism in and around New York City. This partnership aims to blend the FBI’s procedural expertise with the CIA’s intelligence capabilities, offering a fresh dynamic within the FBI universe.
🎭 Cast and Production Team
- Tom Ellis (known for Lucifer) has been cast as the lead CIA officer, bringing his charismatic and nuanced performance style to the role.
- The FBI agent counterpart has not been cast yet, with casting currently underway.
- David Hudgins, former showrunner of FBI: Most Wanted, will serve as the showrunner and executive producer.
- Other executive producers include Dick Wolf (Law & Order, FBI), Nicole Perlman (Captain Marvel), and former CIA officer David Chasteen, who will also contribute to the writing.
🗓️ Premiere and Scheduling
FBI: CIA is slated to debut in the 2025–2026 season, airing on Monday nights. It will be paired with the original FBI series, continuing CBS’s commitment to the FBI franchise. This scheduling strategy aims to capitalize on the established audience base of the original series while introducing new content.
🔄 Relationship with Other FBI Series
While FBI: CIA exists within the same universe as the original FBI series, it will operate independently. There are currently no plans for crossovers with other FBI spinoffs like FBI: Most Wanted or FBI: International, both of which have been canceled. This approach allows FBI: CIA to develop its unique identity and narrative focus.
📌 Conclusion
FBI: CIA represents a strategic expansion of the FBI franchise, introducing a fresh narrative angle by combining the investigative prowess of the FBI with the intelligence capabilities of the CIA. With a compelling lead in Tom Ellis and a seasoned production team, the series is poised to attract both fans of the original series and new viewers seeking engaging procedural drama.
