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Out with the old and in with the new. As CBS cancels not one but two FBI shows, the network is also announcing the cast of the franchise’s new spinoff, CIA, and it includes at least one familiar primetime face.
Who’s in the CIA cast?
Tom Ellis, who’s best known for his role as Lucifer Morningstar on Fox’s Lucifer, was announced as the first CIA cast member on April 22, 2025. Ellis, who is one of CIA‘s two leads, will play a CIA case officer who’s described as a “fast-talking, rule-breaking loose cannon,” according to CIA‘s official logline. The other lead, who hasn’t been announced yet, will play a “by-the-book, seasoned and smart FBI agent who believes in the rule of law.”
More: Meet the FBI cast’s kids in real life
“When this odd couple are assigned to work out of CIA’s New York Station, they must learn to work together to investigate cases and criminals posing threats on U.S. soil, finding that their differences may actually be their strength,” the logline continued.
According to Variety, casting for the remaining roles on CIA is ongoing. Along with Lucifer, Ellis has also starred on TV shows like Tell Me Lies, Doctor Who, Merlin, Once Upon a Time, Robot Chicken, Family Guy, and The Flash.
CIA, which is set to premiere on CBS in the 2025-2026 season, was first announced in January 2025. The series, which was originally titled FBI: CIA, was set at first to premiere as a backdoor pilot as part of FBI Season 7. However, news broke in March 2025 that the series would no longer be premiering as a backdoor pilot and would instead be receiving a straight-to-series order for the 2025-2026 season.
Two months after the news of CIA, CBS announced that it would be cancelling two of its three FBI shows — FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International — after their respective sixth and fourth seasons.
While CBS hasn’t confirmed that Most Wanted and International were canceled for CIA, it’s assumed that the shows, which had their budgets reduced ahead of their cancellations, were scrapped to make room for CIA on CBS’ lineup.
“Of course I’m sad the show must come to an end, but I want to thank Wolf Entertainment and CBS for everything: in particular the incredible tour of Europe! We have memories to last us a lifetime!” Eva-Jane Willis, who plays Megan “Smitty” Garretson on FBI: International, told Us Weekly in a statement at the time.
She continued, “Also, everyone needs to know how incredible our crew in Budapest are: our family away from home — I cannot thank you enough. And to the fans: you’re amazing!”
Keisha Castle-Hughes, who plays Hana Gibson on FBI: Most Wanted, called the role a “true privilege” in her own statement. “Thanks to Wolf Films and to CBS, David Hudgins and Ken Girotti, for supporting an incredible run of the show. I will treasure the memories and the friendships built over my time on the series and the years spent,” she said. “My deepest gratitude goes to the hardworking crews from New York. These are the people who have carried me through frigid winters and sweltering summers, early mornings and long days, and because of them it was never hard.”
She continued, “It’s bittersweet but we are invigorated and determined to close out Season 6 with hard work and love and give you the best season yet! This is for you!”
