The FBI spinoff with a CIA twist is transferring ahead with a straight-to-series order at CBS and Tom Ellis as star. Tentatively titled CIA, the venture (fka FBI: CIA) will now be a part of the mothership FBI drama on CBS’ 2025-26 schedule.
Initially introduced as a planted spinoff, the brand new FBI universe extension was speculated to be launched in an episode of the mothership collection this spring. As Deadline reported final month, that plan was finally scrapped, with the eye shifting to a straight-to-series order, which was thought-about contingent on casting the principle lead. (The chance for a CIA straight-to-series order was first floated when CBS cancelled FBI: Most Wished and FBI: Worldwide. Of the 2, Most Wished originated as an FBI planted spinoff episode whereas Worldwide, like CIA, was ordered straight-to-series.)
Ellis emerged as a best choice early on and was supplied the CIA agent function greater than two months in the past. Phrase began circulating a few month in the past that negotiations with the Lucifer star had damaged off however the venture remained alive and casting. It’s unclear when precisely talks with Ellis restarted however his deal simply closed, I hear, paving the best way to the collection order.
Written by Wolf, FBI: Most Wished showrunner David Hudgins, Nicole Perlman and former CIA officer David Chasteen, CIA (working title) facilities on two unlikely companions – a fast-talking, rule-breaking unfastened cannon CIA case officer (Ellis), and a by-the-book, seasoned and sensible FBI agent who believes within the rule of regulation. When this odd couple are assigned to work out of CIA’s New York Station, they have to be taught to work collectively to research instances and criminals posing threats on U.S. soil, discovering that their variations may very well be their power.
Initially, three characters — together with the FBI agent and the CIA agent — have been going to be launched within the planted spinoff episode of FBI which was pushed a few instances over casting delays till a choice was made to not proceed with it.
FBI’s CIA offshoot is government produced by Wolf, Hudgins, who will function showrunner, Perlman, Chasteen and Wolf Leisure’s Peter Jankowski. Like the remainder of the FBI franchise, the collection is from Common Tv, a division of Common Studio Group, in affiliation with Wolf Leisure and CBS Studios.
That is the third new drama collection ordered by CBS for the 2025-26 season, becoming a member of two different franchise extensions, Hearth Nation spinoff Sheriff Nation and Blue Bloods offshoot Boston Blue.
Ellis, who headlined Lucifer for its six-season run on Fox and Netflix, lately did a season-long arc on Hulu’s Inform Me Lies and can play a lead reverse Sterling Okay. Brown on the upcoming Hulu restricted collection Washington Black. In options, he lately starred in Netflix’s romantic comedy Gamers and can subsequent be seen in /Netfflix/Amblin’s Thursday Homicide Membership. Ellis is repped by CAA, Nameless Content material, UK’s Hamilton Hodell and Johnson, Shapiro, Slewett and Kole.
