Tom Ellis Enters a New World: FBI: Most Wanted Boss Teases His Role in CIA Spin-Off

CBS is expanding its FBI franchise with a new series titled CIA, set to premiere in the 2025–2026 season. The show will star Tom Ellis (Lucifer) as a charismatic, rule-breaking CIA case officer. He will be paired with a yet-to-be-cast, by-the-book FBI agent. Together, this mismatched duo will operate from the CIA’s New York Station, investigating domestic threats and showcasing how their contrasting styles have become their greatest asset. Serving as executive producer on the series will be David Hudgins, the showrunner for the just-concluded FBI spin-off FBI: Most Wanted. In his recent interview with Screen Rant about Most Wanted‘s finale, Hudgins also teased Ellis’ character.

“He is charming, smart, demanding, unpredictable, and funny,” Hudgins said of Ellis’ character in his chat with the outlet. Further adding, “And he also operates in a very different world than traditional law enforcement. It will be fun to watch Tom take over this character and make him his own – he’s such a gifted actor.” When asked about how the new show, which is based in New York, will incorporate the CIA’s function as a foreign intelligence service into weekly investigations, he said: “The CIA does do domestic intelligence activities, with certain limitations, and it already works with the FBI. The plan is to explore this dynamic much more deeply.”

Initially, CIA was planned as a backdoor pilot within the FBI series, but CBS opted for a direct-to-series order instead. The announcement of CIA comes amid CBS’s decision to cancel two other spin-offs, FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International, after six and four seasons, respectively, due to financial considerations. Despite these cancellations, the original FBI series remains active, having secured a renewal through season ten.

Tom Ellis Joins ‘CIA’ Following Some Stellar Performances

With Hudgins already hinting at “a very different style of storytelling with cases coming from the CIA world as well as the FBI,” he has made it clear that the show will focus mostly on the relationship between the two main leads. Ellis’s casting is not just another gig; the Lucifer star steps into the FBI universe backed by a string of impressive recent performances. In addition to Lucifer, where he played the devil, Ellis is also beloved for his roles in Tell Me Lies and Miranda. Ellis recently returned to rom-com territory with 2024’s Players, a Netflix feature where he played Nick Russel, a charming, emotionally elusive romantic lead.

Looking ahead, Ellis has secured a lead role in Washington Black, a limited series adaptation of Esi Edugyan’s award-winning novel. Portraying Christopher ‘Titch’ Wilde, Ellis will play an inventor who helps a young boy escape slavery in the 19th century. The series co-starring Sterling K. Brown is already generating buzz ahead of its 2025 debut on Hulu. He’s also set to co-star in Second Wife, a relationship drama for Hulu penned by his real-life wife, Meaghan Oppenheimer.