In an unexpected shake-up, CBS has officially announced the cancellation of two of its three FBI franchise shows, sending shockwaves through both fans and the television industry.
The two affected series — FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International — are slated to wrap up their stories in the spring. Most Wanted, which has followed the high-stakes operations of the Fugitive Task Force, will conclude after six successful seasons, while International, centered on a team of elite agents tackling global crime, will bid farewell after four seasons on air.
The decision is particularly surprising given the strong performance of both shows. According to Nielsen ratings, each spinoff consistently landed among the top 25 most-watched programs on network television, averaging around 7.5 million viewers per week across platforms. For years, this level of stability made the FBI universe one of CBS’s most reliable performers.
Still, CBS appears to be recalibrating its programming strategy. The flagship series FBI remains untouched and will continue to serve as the cornerstone of the franchise, with its multi-season renewal ensuring new episodes through the 2026–2027 broadcast season. This move demonstrates that the network has no intention of abandoning the FBI brand entirely.
In fact, CBS is already looking to the future. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the network is actively developing a new extension of the franchise, tentatively titled FBI: CIA. The project is expected to debut through a backdoor pilot later this season, signaling a fresh direction that could merge the investigative intensity of the FBI world with the international intrigue of intelligence operations.
While Most Wanted and International may not have reached the same blockbuster level of recognition as the flagship, they provided CBS with valuable storytelling diversity and helped maintain a strong lineup in a competitive primetime landscape. Their departures, however, create a noticeable gap. With the long-running Blue Bloods also ending, CBS now faces the challenge of reshaping its schedule and finding replacements that can command equally loyal audiences.
Ultimately, the cancellation of these spinoffs reflects both the unpredictable nature of television programming and CBS’s determination to evolve its FBI universe. Fans may mourn the loss of two beloved series, but the promise of new stories — and the enduring success of the flagship — ensures that the FBI brand will remain a key player in CBS’s future.
