CIA‘s original showrunner, David Hudgins, who had previous experience running FBI: Most Wanted, had originally been set to lead the show and co-write the pilot script with network procedural legend Dick Wolf. However, he is now exiting the troubled series and is to be replaced by Warren Leight, another Dick Wolf universe veteran whose previous experience comes from the long-running Law & Order: SVU.
What This Means For The FBI Spinoff
It’s Not Necessarily A Bad Thing
There had previously been signs that CIA was in some developmental trouble. Earlier this week, there were reports that CIA was in a holding pattern as the show was retooling itself after casting Tom Ellis in the lead role of Hart Hoxton. Reportedly, the scripts are undergoing more polishing, though whether it’s because the show is reworking itself to better suit Ellis’ vibe as an actor (which is not uncommon), or CBS simply felt the story wasn’t there yet is unclear.
There’s no sense rushing the spinoff into production before it’s ready simply to get it into CBS’ fall lineup.
It’s also smart to get the scripts as strong as possible before casting any further actors around Ellis. Too often, we’ve seen shows lose cast members just before production or halfway through filming when the creative direction suddenly changes and they decide it no longer suits them. Ellis being on board and undoubtedly offering input on the script polishing should mitigate this.
Our Take On The CIA Midseason Premiere News
CBS Isn’t Shy About A Long-Term Development Strategy
While the news that it’s being bumped back certainly is worrying on the surface, it may end up being the best thing for CIA. Shows that debut in midseason are often better served by getting a little extra runway to be as strong as possible before production. For example, Watson was a midseason debut this year for CBS, and Watson season 2 is now moving to fall to take CIA’s vacated availability in the lineup.
