After four seasons of globe-trotting investigations and international intrigue, CBS has officially closed the case on FBI: International. The decision came as a shock to many, including the show’s co-creator Derek Haas, who recently addressed the cancellation in a candid statement.
“I was so sad to hear about the cancellation,” Haas told TV Line. “I loved Jesse Soffer as Wes on the show and thought he was a dynamic cast addition in Season 4. I trust Amy Reisenbach [CBS Entertainment President] and EVP Eric Kim, and all my good friends at Wolf Entertainment. So they must’ve had reasons that had nothing to do with the quality of the show.”
🌍 A High-Stakes Series That Traveled the World
Debuting in 2021 as the second official spinoff of CBS’s ever-expanding FBI franchise, FBI: International took the tried-and-true procedural formula and pushed it across borders. Focused on the elite Fly Team headquartered in Budapest, the show explored crimes involving American citizens abroad—often blending international diplomacy with high-octane action.
Despite middling critical reviews, the series struck a chord with a loyal fanbase and maintained an average viewership of over 5 million across its 78-episode run. The show wrapped its fourth and final season with Episode 22, aired on May 20, 2025.
🚨 Back-to-Back Cancellations Rock the FBI Franchise
The end of FBI: International comes alongside another franchise shake-up: the cancellation of the longer-running FBI: Most Wanted. First launched in 2019, Most Wanted aired an impressive 108 episodes over six seasons and often drew higher ratings than its international counterpart. Both cancellations mark a transitional moment for the FBI television universe—one that isn’t slowing down just yet.
🔥 Enter: FBI/CIA, the Next Spinoff
CBS isn’t abandoning the brand. Instead, it’s rebooting and reimagining. Currently in development is FBI/CIA, a fresh take on federal investigations that promises more tension, more espionage, and a charismatic new lead: Tom Ellis, best known for his devilishly good turn in Lucifer.
Ellis will star as Hart Hoxton, a morally gray CIA operative forced to team up with a rule-bound FBI agent. “He uses guile, deceit, and lies to get what he wants,” Ellis recently told Soaps.com. “There’s a lot of moral ambiguity in this role.”
With no official premiere date or full cast list yet announced, FBI/CIA remains one of the most anticipated dramas in CBS’s development slate.
🧩 What Went Wrong?
The cancellation of FBI: International wasn’t due to ratings—at least not obviously. The show consistently pulled in solid numbers and had established a recognizable ensemble cast, including:
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Luke Kleintank as Scott Forrester
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Heida Reed as Jamie Kellett
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Carter Redwood, Vinessa Vidotto, Christiane Paul, Eva-Jane Willis, Christina Wolfe, and Jesse Lee Soffer
However, the departures of Kleintank and Reed after Season 3 may have disrupted narrative continuity, despite the strong addition of Soffer in Season 4. Coupled with the network’s programming shifts and a desire to refresh its lineup, FBI: International ultimately didn’t make the cut for renewal.
