‘CIA’ Isn’t Your Usual FBI Spinoff: Showrunner Hints at Radical Storytelling Shift

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The information available about FBI’s spinoff CIA made the show particularly interesting, but one change dampens the excitement surrounding Tom Ellis’ new character in Dick Wolf’s universe. Ellis was announced to lead the FBI spinoff in April 2025, playing Hart Hoxton, described as a “fast-talking, rule-breaking, loose-cannon CIA case officer” who couldn’t be more different from his FBI partner.

Choosing Ellis for CIA’s lead continues a casting trend for Wolf’s shows, as the star is incredibly familiar to many viewers for playing Lucifer Morningstar in Lucifer, a series so beloved that it managed to get a second life at Netflix after being canceled by Fox. However, this also raises the question about which accent Hoxton will have in CIA.

Tom Ellis’ Hart Hoxton Is An American With No Accent In FBI: CIA

This Makes Hoxton Much Different From Ellis’s Previous Roles

Ellis’ update about FBI’s upcoming spinoff CIA gave new information about Hoxton, including how he “has to use guile and deceit and lies to get what he wants.” Hoxton’s grey morality highlights the similarities with Lucifer’s titular character, but one thing will differ, as Hoxton will inevitably be American, leading Ellis to put on an American accent for the role.

While Lucifer’s accent was undoubtedly different from Ellis’, the actor played multiple roles with a British accent beyond the popular devilish character, including the more recent – and much more diabolical than Lucifer – Oliver in Tell Me Lies season 2. Hart Hoxton being American inevitably limits the possibility of Ellis donning a British accent, marking a difference from Ellis’ other roles.

Why Hoxton Being Another American Leading Character In The FBI Universe Is Less Exciting

It Potentially Doesn’t Differentiate Too Much From Other Characters In The Franchise

Fandom Lair on X: "Nothing like a nice holiday get together. Episode 7 of #tellmelies now streaming. https://t.co/sb60CbjB7l" / X

The FBI universe focusing on characters in those law enforcement agencies makes it unlikely for a foreigner to lead FBI’s spinoff CIA, making it necessary for Hoxton to be American. At the same time, Hoxton’s backstory could have explained his British accent through his unusual past or a dual nationality had they decided to go in that direction for CIA.

[Tom Ellis adopting a] British accent could have made things interesting.

With little known about Hart Hoxton except for the balance he has to strike to work with an FBI agent whose work ethic is opposite to his own, his tendency to bend the rules to his favor and his Americanness, it would be unwise to assume Hoxton’s backstory to be simple. Still, a British accent could have made things interesting.

Ellis Shouldn’t Have A Problem Not Doing An Accent In FBI: CIA

Ellis Briefly Did An American Accent In Lucifer Too, When Playing Michael

Ellis’ British accent in Lucifer made the character iconically stand out, but he also proved to be able to successfully put on an American accent. Indeed, besides playing the titular character, Ellis played his evil brother Michael from Lucifer season 5, who had an American accent from which his origin couldn’t be picked up – understandably so, given their being angels.

Lucifer viewers complained about Michael’s accent because of it being simultaneously too hard to place and only generally what non-Americans could perceive an American accent to be, but Ellis proved a dedication to accents specifically when crafting his version of Lucifer Morningstar. This can only bode well for CIA, as Ellis can hopefully use the accent to serve Hoxton’s story.

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