CBS’ popular cop drama FBI has created an entire universe with different spinoffs. Another one, CIA, is in the works, starring Tom Ellis.
Per the initial announcement, Michele was set to portray a supervisor at the CIA who will presumably be keeping a close eye on the series’ leading duo, Ellis and Gehlfuss’ characters.
However, now the spot remains empty as Michele departed the project shortly after the series started filming in September, and is eyeing a midseason premiere. The outlet reports that Michele’s character “would be recast,” however, no replacement has been confirmed yet.
CBS picked up the show in April 2025 with a straight-to-series order. This marks the second-biggest change for the FBI offshoot, as the series was pushed to midseason after being delayed for a showrunner change. FBI: Most Wanted showrunner David Hudgins was originally supposed to lead and co-write the pilot with FBI, Law & Order & Chicago franchise boss Dick Wolf. However, he departed the project, and was replaced by another Wolf universe veteran, Warren Leight, who was a showrunner on Law & Order: SVU.
The initial plans were to soft launch Tom Ellis’ character, as well as two others, presumably Michele and Gelfuss’, on the flagship FBI series, but plans were pushed back several times because of casting delays, and the show ended up being an entity on its own from the get-go.
The official logline for CIA from CBS reads, “CIA is a one-hour crime drama centered on two unlikely partners — a fast-talking, rule-breaking loose cannon CIA case officer (Ellis), and a by-the-book, seasoned and smart FBI agent who believes in the rule of law. When this odd couple is 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.”
Michele was not new to the Wolf universe. She recurred New York Undercover Season 1 as her first acting credit. She most recently starred opposite Queen Latifah on another CBS/Universal TV crime drama, The Equalizer. The outlet doesn’t mention any reasons for her departure.
The FBI Universe Keeps Thriving
Even with several delays in releasing the offshoot CIA, the flagship series is going strong. The show just returned with Season 8 in October, and was an immediate hit. Season 8 finally revealed Isobel Castille’s fate, and fans rushed to watch it.
The series previously featured two more shows, FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International, and both ended in 2025 after six and four seasons, respectively.
