🎠Tom Ellis Cast as Hart Hoxton, a Rogue CIA Officer
Best known for his role as the charming devil in Lucifer, Tom Ellis takes on a very different character in CIA. He plays Hart Hoxton, a brilliant but rebellious CIA case officer based at the agency’s New York Station. Hart doesn’t play by the book and is known for his sharp wit, field instincts, and disregard for protocol.
In a twist typical of Dick Wolf dramas, Hart is paired with a methodical, by-the-book FBI agent, forming a classic “odd couple” partnership. Their job? Tackling national security threats that blur the line between law enforcement and covert intelligence.
🛠️ Production and Creative Team
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Showrunner: David Hudgins, former showrunner of FBI: Most Wanted
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Executive Producers: Dick Wolf, Nicole Perlman, David Chasteen, Peter Jankowski
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Pilot Director: Eriq La Salle (known for Chicago P.D. and Law & Order)
The show was greenlit without a backdoor pilot, which is unusual for franchise expansions like this. CBS executives are clearly confident in both the premise and the star power of Tom Ellis.
🎬 What Is CIA About?
The show centers on the CIA’s domestic station in New York, which operates in close coordination—but often tension—with the FBI. The series will explore domestic terrorism, covert operations, and how the CIA operates under legal limitations within U.S. borders.
The dynamic between Hart and his FBI partner will be the emotional and dramatic heart of the series. Their opposing worldviews—one shaped by shadow ops and secrets, the other by law, order, and evidence—create a compelling push-and-pull.
⚖️ Tone and Style: A Different Kind of FBI Drama
While CIA exists within the FBI universe, it will have a distinct tone. More espionage-driven than its predecessors, the series is expected to blend spy thriller elements with procedural crime-solving.
According to the creators, CIA will lean into morally complex territory, focusing on difficult choices, blurred lines, and internal government conflicts — a departure from the more straightforward structure of the core FBI series.
đź“Ł Fan Buzz and Expectations
News of the series has generated mixed but intrigued reactions from fans online:
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Some are excited to see Tom Ellis return to television in a lead dramatic role.
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Others are cautious, particularly after CBS canceled FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International earlier in 2025 to make room for new content.
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Many are curious to see how this show will balance its identity between being a spinoff and standing on its own.
While crossovers with FBI are possible, producers have stated that CIA is designed to stand independently, with original characters and story arcs.
đź“Š Series Snapshot
| Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | CIA |
| Star | Tom Ellis as Hart Hoxton |
| Genre | Procedural Drama / Espionage Thriller |
| Setting | CIA’s New York Station |
| Premiere | Fall 2025, Mondays at 10 PM |
| Showrunner | David Hudgins |
| Produced by | Dick Wolf, Nicole Perlman, David Chasteen |
| Tone | Intelligence drama with FBI dynamics |
| Target Themes | National security, moral ambiguity, partnership dynamics |
🔮 What’s Next?
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Casting announcements for the FBI co-lead expected soon.
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A first trailer is likely to be released by late summer 2025.
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CBS is expected to position CIA as a major fall premiere alongside returning FBI.
Fans of the FBI franchise — and viewers who enjoyed spy shows like Jack Ryan or 24 — will likely find CIA a high-stakes, adrenaline-driven addition to the lineup.
