TheFBIfranchise lives on despite CBS' cancelations of two of its TV shows, with the original flagship series guaranteed at least two more seasons and a newFBIspinoff in development. According toDeadline, CBS canceledFBI: Most WantedandFBI: Internationalin March 2025, a couple of months before their respective season finales. Thankfully, this gives the writers and producers of both shows time to plan satisfying endings for all their stories. The news is still shocking to many, especially afterthe network previously announced a thirdFBIspinoff is in the works —FBI: CIA.
New episodes ofFBIseason 7 air on Tuesdays at 8 pm ET, followed byFBI: Internationalseason 4 at 9 pm ET andFBI: Most Wantedseason 6 at 10 pm ET on CBS.
In January 2025, news outlets reported thatCBS is developing another installment in theFBIfranchise.FBI: CIA, as its title implies, revolves around a “dedicated, strait-laced” FBI agent and a “street-smart” CIA agent joining forces as part of a “new, clandestine taskforce” that focuses on domestic terrorism cases in New York City. Three of the potential spinoff’s main characters, including the aforementioned FBI and CIA agents, will appear inan episode ofFBIseason 7 that serves as a backdoor pilot forFBI:CIA.Despite this exciting news, CBS still decided to cancel the franchise’s two other spinoffs.
CBS' Decision To Cancel FBI: International & FBI: Most Wanted Explained
The Network’s Dreaded Cuts Have Begun
Unfortunately,CBS' cancelation ofFBI: Most WantedandFBI: Internationalmakes sense when looking at the big picture and thinking about logistics. The network has tomake cuts to fit every show (whether old or new) into its 2025–2026 lineup.There are just too many in the works, and CBS has to contemplate which TV series will succeed (and be more cost-efficient) and which ones won’t perform as well as others.
FBI’s Surprise New Spinoff Is Worrying After One Chicago’s Failed 4th Show
CBS continues expanding the FBI universe, but the announcement of the franchise’s latest spinoff is concerning after what happened to One Chicago.
PerTVLine,FBI: Most Wantedseason 6 is averaging 6.5 million viewers, down 10% from last year. Meanwhile,FBI: Internationalseason 4 is averaging 6.53 million viewers, also down 10% from its previous totals. According to those numbers,bothTV shows in theFBIfranchiserank below seven other CBS dramas that have aired during the 2024–2025 season.Tracker,Matlock,FBI,Blue Bloods,NCIS,Elsbeth, andWatsonhave all performed better thanFBI: Most WantedandFBI: International. While CBS hasn’t confirmed the reasons behind the cancelations, one can infer that lower ratings and an excess of shows played a role.
Why FBI: CIA Is Still Moving Forward Despite The Cancelations?
CBS Is Focusing On New Spinoffs Of Its Popular Shows
Despite the cancelationsofFBI: Most WantedandFBI: International,theFBIflagship series continues to thrive.CBS renewed it through season 9 for a reason, after all. So, it’s understandable why the network and Wolf Entertainment would still want to expand the franchise. Plus, CBS has seemingly been prioritizing new spinoffs of its more popular shows (e.g.,Fire CountryandBlue Bloods) to bank on their success (even if that means leaving the original and older TV series behind).
FBI: CIA
FBI
In development —FBIseason 7 is set to air the spinoff’s backdoor pilot in the spring of 2025
Set to premiere during the 2025–2026 TV season
Fire Country: Surfside(starring Jared Padalecki as Camden Casey)
Fire Country
On hold until afterSheriff Countryairs (Padalecki also has another show in the works for CBS)
UntitledEqualizerspinoff (starring Titus Welliver and Juani Feliz)
The Equalizer
Not yet confirmed
Consequently, CBS is still moving forward withFBI: CIA. In fact, given the cancelations ofFBI: Most WantedandFBI: International,FBI: CIA’s chances of being ordered to series are looking better than ever.CBS undoubtedly wants to have at least twoFBITV showsin its scheduling lineup. So, it’s more than likely that the network will giveFBI: CIAa straight-to-series order sooner rather than later, especially once the cast is announced (whichDeadlinereports contains some big talent).
What International & Most Wanted’s Cancelations Mean For The FBI Franchise
Some Characters Might Be Moved Around
Even though fans must say goodbye toFBI: Most WantedandFBI: Internationalin the spring of 2025, that doesn’t mean they have to bid farewell to all the characters forever. CBS hasn’t confirmed what will happen to the spinoffs' cast members following their finales. However,one could speculate that some characters will joinFBIorFBI:CIA.Well, in Shantel VanSanten’s case, she would theoretically rejointheFBIcastas Nina Chase. As for other actors, only time will tell what their characters' fates will be in theFBIfranchise onceFBI: Most WantedandFBI: Internationalend.
