We have been hopeful. It was a pretty devastating blow to lose both FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International at the same time. We suspected one of these shows were on the bubble, since CBS had yet to renew them, but we did not anticipate the network pulling the plug on both and then launching new FBI spinoffs in their place.
Still, there were flickers of hope. We had seen shows like SWAT come back from the dead on CBS, and twice there. We’d also seen shows like 9-1-1: Lone Star get the boot from one network, only to be picked up by another. Plus, FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International were Wolf Entertainment titles that were connected to franchises on other networks. Maybe NBC can step in and keep one or both shows going?
Neither show is being shopped to networks
A fan wrote in to TV Line with this question, expecting an exciting update or a buzzworthy note regarding attempts made by Wolf Entertainment. Sadly, the outlet had no such news. Apparently there have been no efforts made to prolong the lives of Most Wanted and/or International.
“Sorry to say, neither of the canceled CBS spinoffs are being shopped around at this time,” the outlet asserted. It’s disappointing, obviously, but it does make some sense given the suspected reasons for their respective cancellations.
It was theorized by some insiders that FBI: International was proven to be costly given the locations in which it was being shot, compared to the stateside sets of the flagship show. Shows get far more expensive as they wear on, and CBS obviously feels it would be a better use of time to start anew with another FBI spinoff.
Both shows drew lower ratings than FBI
Then there’s the anticipation of rights drama. FBI is produced by Universal Television, and Slash Film theorized that CBS may have axed FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International early in an effort to avoid costs and lengthy renewal negotiations with Universal. Then, of course, there’s the simple yet very notable metric of ratings.
Most Wanted and International were not flops by any means. Both shows managed to pull in a very consistent 8.5 and 8.4 million viewers per episode, respectively, at the top of the year. The flagship FBI show, however, was pulling in 10.5 million viewers per episode. There’s a notable difference, and the network’s hopes for the tentatively titled FBI: CIA appear to be high. It would be a lot for another network to take on, which may very well be why they aren’t being shopped.
