All three shows in the FBI franchise have had their official release dates set for their new seasons. The franchise is an interconnected Dick Wolf universe that began with the flagship show, which follows the Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal division in New York. That show has been running since 2018, with the upcoming FBI season 7 being the latest installment in the long-running program. Since it premiered, it has birthed two spinoffs, namely 2020’s Most Wanted (which follows the New York Fugitive Task Force) and 2021’s International (which follows the Budapest-based Fly Team).
Per Paramount, all three shows have been given return dates as part of CBS’ announcement of their schedule for the upcoming Fall 2024-2025 season. The trio is set to premiere all in a row on Tuesday, October 15. The FBI season 7 premiere will kick off the block at 8:00 p.m., followed by the FBI: International season 4 premiere at 9:00 p.m. and the FBI: Most Wanted season 6 premiere at 10:00 p.m.
This Season Will Prove Whether FBI Can Really Do No Wrong
The FBI Franchise Has Weathered Some Major Challenges
The FBI franchise, which is technically also part of Dick Wolf’s One Chicago universe, seems to be going just as strong as the legendary producers’ other iconic universes, a roster which also includes the Law & Order franchise. However, as the youngest universe among them, it still has a lot to prove as far as how long it can extend its trio of shows’ current longevity. The probability of the shows running just as long as the other franchises will most likely be proved by the end of the upcoming season.
Although Law & Order has had other spinoffs come and go, the current lineup includes the revived flagship show and its spinoffs, Special Victims Unit and Organized Crime .
So far, the shows have weathered two major storms early in their runs. The first was the worldwide industry shutdowns that took place during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, shortly after the premiere of FBI: Most Wanted. The fact that the first spinoff of the original FBI show survived speaks to its strong viewership, as does the fact that all three shows survived the overlapping industry strikes in 2023. That year, when both writers and actors took to the picket lines to fight for fair pay, many shows were cancelled by producers amid work stoppages.
However, a recent report revealed that the main cast members of FBI and Most Wanted had their guarantees reduced by two episodes apiece amid other network cost-cutting measures. Because of moves like this, the shows will have to prove this season more than ever that they are viable sources of profit for the network. However, if they weather this third storm and maintain strong viewership, it seems entirely likely that they could run just as long as any of Dick Wolf’s other iconic properties.
