The FBI universe is expanding once again. While many were expecting to only have the original FBI series to enjoy next season, it is now official that a new series, FBI: CIA, will be joining the family.
FBI: CIA was introduced to the franchise just a short time after the spinoffs FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International were sent to the chopping block. Although a title change might be in the show’s future, the new spinoff has been deemed a straight-to-order series for the 2025-2026 season, which means that CBS has committed to producing the entire season of the show without requiring a pilot episode to be tested first.
The original plan was for the show to be introduced through the original series, serving as a backdoor pilot for the spinoff. However, CBS has chosen to forgo this plan.
What is ‘FBI: CIA’ about?
While the plans for FBI: CIA are still in the works, there is a tentative plot for the upcoming series. The show is meant to center around a by-the-books FBI agent and a street-smart CIA agent who are chosen to take part in a new, secret task-force on the hunt to prevent and solve domestic terrorism in New York City.
These characters were originally going to appear in an episode of the original FBI series, which began in 2018. However, that plan was scrapped when the actors for those characters were still unknown.
But while the on-screen team is still a mystery, the team behind-the-scenes is a talented bunch. The mastermind is none other than Dick Wolf, who has produced each of the shows in the FBI universe, as well as the Law & Order universe and many of the Chicago series.
The other members assisting Wolf are FBI: Most Wanted showrunner David Hudgins, Nicole Perlman and former CIA officer David Chasteen.
What we know about the cast and release date
While CBS has officially confirmed FBI: CIA with a straight-to-series order, details about the cast and release date are still under wraps. The show is slated to premiere during the 2025-2026 season, but CBS has yet to announce an exact date.
Casting decisions are also being kept quiet for now, though with Dick Wolf leading the project, fans can expect a lineup of talented actors. More information about the cast and premiere is expected to be revealed in the coming months.
All about the ‘FBI’ TV franchise
FBI, which is currently on its seventh season, focuses on a few main characters in the New York City field office as they solve crime and keep the streets of the city safe. The original series has consistently starred Missy Peregrym, Jeremy Sisto and Zeeko Zaki, and has added team members including John Boyd and Law & Order’s Alana de la Garza.
In 2020, Wolf decided to expand the universe by adding FBI: Most Wanted, which stars Dylan McDermott and Julian McMahon. The spinoff centers on the FBI’s Fugitive Task Force (FTF) tracking down the most notorious criminals on the Top 10 Most Wanted list. The show, which ran for six seasons, was recently cancelled.
A year later, FBI: International was born, starring Luke Kleintank and more recently Jesse Lee Soffer. This new series revolved around the FBI’s International Fly Team. While the team is headquartered in Budapest, the team travels the world tracking and trying to neutralize international threats made against American citizens. This series, too, was cancelled earlier this month.
