An period ended on CBS within the spring 2025 TV schedule, with the final FBI Tuesday. The community cancelled each FBI: Most Wished and FBI: Worldwide, then introduced FBI‘s transfer to Monday within the 2025-2026 fall TV lineup. A brand new present is becoming a member of CBS’ nook of the expansive Dick Wolf TV universe, nevertheless, with Lucifer alum Tom Ellis starring in CIA. I realized from CIA showrunner and Most Wished vet David Hudgins how intently CIA might be tied to the FBIs, and I am now rethinking my stance on FBI characters making appearances.
Tom Ellis stars as a fast-talking CIA case officer by the title of Hart Hoxton, reverse a seasoned FBI agent who’s extra inclined to play by the e book. The duo might be paired to fight threats in the US. Per CBS’ announcement that CIA will air at 10 p.m. ET on Mondays within the fall, it is going to be a “universe growth of the FBI collection.”
The present was initially introduced as a by-product of FBI by the title of FBI: CIA, with the expectation that followers of the unique collection would get a style earlier than the tip of the spring. Showrunner/government producer David Hudgins, who additionally opened up about wanting a “correct goodbye” for FBI: Most Wished, defined to CinemaBlend the title change from FBI: CIA to CIA:
It was initially conceived as a backdoor pilot in FBI however now the viewers will meet these characters for the primary time within the collection premiere which is ready within the New York CIA unit.
This is not the primary time that CBS might be increasing a TV universe with no new present getting a backdoor pilot, as the identical occurred with NCIS: Hawai’i again in 2021. It looks as if a protected wager that working out of the New York CIA unit might be significantly completely different from what Isobel and Co. stand up to within the NYC FBI area workplace over on FBI, to maintain the 2 New York-set exhibits separate.
Clearly, CIA becoming a member of FBI on Monday nights is not going to be like Dick Wolf’s One Chicago Wednesdays, with shut bonds between all three exhibits and frequent mini crossovers over on NBC. After I went on to ask David Hudgins how intently CIA might be tied to FBI because it did not get that backdoor pilot, he previewed:
It gained’t be – it’s its personal present.
It feels like CIA might be set in the identical universe as FBI, however that could be so far as the ties between the 2 dramas go. In fact, with months to go earlier than CBS’ fall schedule kicks off, there’s not a lot footage to go on. Nonetheless, the community supplied a peek of Tom Ellis in motion as Hart Hoxton. Have a look:
On the time of writing, the FBI agent who might be partnering with Tom Ellis’ character seemingly has not been solid, which opened followers as much as hypothesis about whether or not an FBI: Most Wished or FBI: Worldwide star might fill the emptiness. Barnes’ new job as chief of the Fugitive Job Pressure dominated her out after the Most Wished finale, and many of the Fly Crew appeared content material in Budapest within the Worldwide finale, however there are loads of brokers who theoretically might be a part of CIA.
However after David Hudgins’ feedback, I am inclined to suspect that the FBI agent co-leading CIA will not be a well-recognized face, and even small cameos like Alana De La Garza or Jeremy Sisto popping up is perhaps unlikely. That is not a nasty factor, because the present deserves a contemporary begin, particularly if it isn’t launching by way of a backdoor pilot. In actual fact, maybe newcomers might be extra inspired to offer the present a shot.
So, what now? Solely time will inform who David Hudgins and Co. fill the CIA solid out with after bringing within the Lucifer main man, however you may all the time revisit the ultimate seasons of Most Wished and Worldwide streaming with a Paramount+ subscription. The Season 7 finale of FBI is actually value revisiting after after a script that even had the celebrities questioning “What on this planet are they doing?”