An period ended on CBS within the spring 2025 TV schedule, with the final FBI Tuesday. The community cancelled each FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International, then introduced FBI‘s transfer to Monday within the 2025-2026 fall TV lineup. A brand new present is becoming a member of CBS’ nook of the expansive Dick Wolf TV universe, nevertheless, with Lucifer alum Tom Ellis starring in CIA. I realized from CIA showrunner and Most Wanted vet David Hudgins how intently CIA will probably be tied to the FBIs, and I’m now rethinking my stance on FBI characters making appearances.
Tom Ellis stars as a fast-talking CIA case officer by the identify of Hart Hoxton, reverse a seasoned FBI agent who’s extra inclined to play by the ebook. The duo will probably be paired to fight threats in the US. Per CBS’ announcement that CIA will air at 10 p.m. ET on Mondays within the fall, will probably be a “universe enlargement of the FBI sequence.”
The present was initially introduced as a by-product of FBI by the identify of FBI: CIA, with the expectation that followers of the unique sequence would get a style earlier than the tip of the spring. Showrunner/government producer David Hudgins, who additionally opened up about wanting a “correct goodbye” for FBI: Most Wanted, defined to CinemaBlend the identify change from FBI: CIA to CIA:
It was initially conceived as a backdoor pilot in FBI however now the viewers will meet these characters for the primary time within the sequence premiere which is about within the New York CIA unit.
This is not the primary time that CBS will probably be increasing a TV universe with out a new present getting a backdoor pilot, as the identical occurred with NCIS: Hawai’i again in 2021. It looks like a protected guess that working out of the New York CIA unit will probably be significantly totally different from what Isobel and Co. rise up to within the NYC FBI area workplace over on FBI, to maintain the 2 New York-set reveals separate.
Clearly, CIA becoming a member of FBI on Monday nights is not going to be like Dick Wolf’s One Chicago Wednesdays, with shut bonds between all three reveals and frequent mini crossovers over on NBC. When I went on to ask David Hudgins how intently CIA will probably be tied to FBI because it did not get that backdoor pilot, he previewed:
It gained’t be – it’s its personal present.
It feels like CIA will probably be set in the identical universe as FBI, however which may be so far as the ties between the 2 dramas go. After all, with months to go earlier than CBS’ fall schedule kicks off, there’s not a lot footage to go on. Nonetheless, the community offered a peek of Tom Ellis in motion as Hart Hoxton. Have a look:
On the time of writing, the FBI agent who will probably be partnering with Tom Ellis’ character seemingly has not been forged, which opened followers as much as hypothesis about whether or not an FBI: Most Wanted or FBI: International star may fill the emptiness. Barnes’ new job as chief of the Fugitive Activity Power dominated her out after the Most Wanted finale, and many of the Fly Staff appeared content material in Budapest within the International finale, however there are plenty of brokers who theoretically may be part of CIA.
However after David Hudgins’ feedback, I’m inclined to suspect that the FBI agent co-leading CIA will not be a well-known face, and even small cameos like Alana De La Garza or Jeremy Sisto popping up is likely to be unlikely. That is not a nasty factor, because the present deserves a recent begin, particularly if it is not launching by way of a backdoor pilot. In actual fact, maybe newcomers will probably be extra inspired to offer the present a shot.
So, what now? Solely time will inform who David Hudgins and Co. fill the CIA forged out with after bringing within the Lucifer main man, however you may at all times revisit the ultimate seasons of Most Wanted and International streaming with a Paramount+ subscription. The Season 7 finale of FBI is actually value revisiting after after a script that even had the celebrities questioning “What on the earth are they doing?”