CIA (CBS; EP Dick Wolf) -- S: Tom Ellis -- Premieres 2/23/26
04-22-25 | 03:06 PM
#1
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CIA (CBS; EP Dick Wolf) -- S: Tom Ellis -- Premieres 2/23/26
Greenlit for next season. They have not filmed a backdoor Pilot, that was scrapped. Ellis is the first actor officially cast.
Written by Wolf and FBI: Most Wanted showrunner David Hudgins, CIA (working title) centers on two unlikely partners – a fast-talking, rule-breaking loose cannon CIA case officer (Ellis), and a by-the-book, seasoned and smart FBI agent who believes in the rule of law. When this odd couple are assigned to work out of CIA’s New York Station, they must learn to work together to investigate cases and criminals posing threats on U.S. soil, finding that their differences may actually be their strength.
Originally, three characters — including the FBI agent and the CIA agent — were going to be introduced in the planted spinoff episode of FBI which was pushed a couple of times over casting delays until a decision was made not to proceed with it. There also had been questions about the creative of the project, which came together quickly.
FBI’s CIA offshoot is executive produced by Wolf, Hudgins, who will serve as showrunner, Nicole Perlman, former CIA officer David Chasteen and Wolf Entertainment’s Peter Jankowski. Like the rest of the FBI franchise, the series is from Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with Wolf Entertainment and CBS Studios.
This is the third new drama series ordered by CBS for the 2025-26 season, joining two other franchise extensions, Fire Country spinoff Sheriff Country and Blue Bloods offshoot Boston Blue.
Ellis, who headlined Lucifer for its six-season run on Fox and Netflix, recently did a season-long arc on Hulu’s Tell Me Lies and will play a lead opposite Sterling K. Brown on the upcoming Hulu limited series Washington Black. In features, he recently starred in Netflix’s romantic comedy Players and will next be seen in Netflix/Amblin’s Thursday Murder Club. Ellis is repped by CAA, Anonymous Content, UK’s Hamilton Hodell and Johnson, Shapiro, Slewett and Kole.
Originally, three characters — including the FBI agent and the CIA agent — were going to be introduced in the planted spinoff episode of FBI which was pushed a couple of times over casting delays until a decision was made not to proceed with it. There also had been questions about the creative of the project, which came together quickly.
FBI’s CIA offshoot is executive produced by Wolf, Hudgins, who will serve as showrunner, Nicole Perlman, former CIA officer David Chasteen and Wolf Entertainment’s Peter Jankowski. Like the rest of the FBI franchise, the series is from Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with Wolf Entertainment and CBS Studios.
This is the third new drama series ordered by CBS for the 2025-26 season, joining two other franchise extensions, Fire Country spinoff Sheriff Country and Blue Bloods offshoot Boston Blue.
Ellis, who headlined Lucifer for its six-season run on Fox and Netflix, recently did a season-long arc on Hulu’s Tell Me Lies and will play a lead opposite Sterling K. Brown on the upcoming Hulu limited series Washington Black. In features, he recently starred in Netflix’s romantic comedy Players and will next be seen in Netflix/Amblin’s Thursday Murder Club. Ellis is repped by CAA, Anonymous Content, UK’s Hamilton Hodell and Johnson, Shapiro, Slewett and Kole.
11-06-25 | 07:20 PM
#2
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re: CIA (CBS; EP Dick Wolf) -- S: Tom Ellis -- Premieres 2/23/26
I know most here probably have very little interest in this, especially since it’s a CBS crime procedural.
But, it’s gone through some creative challenges
Eriq La Salle just left as EP and director. He had already directed some episodes. He just recently worked with Dick Wolf on his Amazon show that got canceled.
Michael Michele was playing the CIA station boss, and she left the show.
and now the show runner Warren Leight, who has worked with Dick Wolf for decades, just quit. He’s being replaced by FBI’s current show runner, who will do double duty.
Tom Ellis’ co-lead is Nick Gehlfuss from Chicago Med.
This is still slated to air mid season.
But, it’s gone through some creative challenges
Eriq La Salle just left as EP and director. He had already directed some episodes. He just recently worked with Dick Wolf on his Amazon show that got canceled.
Michael Michele was playing the CIA station boss, and she left the show.
and now the show runner Warren Leight, who has worked with Dick Wolf for decades, just quit. He’s being replaced by FBI’s current show runner, who will do double duty.
Tom Ellis’ co-lead is Nick Gehlfuss from Chicago Med.
This is still slated to air mid season.
11-17-25 | 03:16 PM
#3
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re: CIA (CBS; EP Dick Wolf) -- S: Tom Ellis -- Premieres 2/23/26
Premieres February 23
11-17-25 | 03:45 PM
#4
DVD Talk Legend
re: CIA (CBS; EP Dick Wolf) -- S: Tom Ellis -- Premieres 2/23/26
I wonder how they’ll differentiate this from FBI International. Different agencies but similar stories to tell. I hope the locations vary from the standard eastern EU.
11-17-25 | 04:02 PM
#5
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re: CIA (CBS; EP Dick Wolf) -- S: Tom Ellis -- Premieres 2/23/26
If you read the original synopsis in post 1, it looks like it’s CIA cases in the U.S. since they are working out of the NY office.
11-18-25 | 10:21 AM
#6
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11-18-25 | 10:42 AM
#7
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11-18-25 | 10:55 AM
#8
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11-18-25 | 01:06 PM
#9
DVD Talk Legend
re: CIA (CBS; EP Dick Wolf) -- S: Tom Ellis -- Premieres 2/23/26
I still don't get it. CIA doesn't do ops on US soil. Is this just an office show? If it's US based, how will it be different from FBI main show or the Most Wanted spin-off?
I'll certainly check it out when it airs (I do with anything from Dick Wolf), but I won't have high expectations.
I'll certainly check it out when it airs (I do with anything from Dick Wolf), but I won't have high expectations.
11-18-25 | 03:03 PM
#10
re: CIA (CBS; EP Dick Wolf) -- S: Tom Ellis -- Premieres 2/23/26
I still don't get it. CIA doesn't do ops on US soil. Is this just an office show? If it's US based, how will it be different from FBI main show or the Most Wanted spin-off?
I'll certainly check it out when it airs (I do with anything from Dick Wolf), but I won't have high expectations.
I'll certainly check it out when it airs (I do with anything from Dick Wolf), but I won't have high expectations.
11-18-25 | 03:06 PM
#11
DVD Talk Gold Edition
re: CIA (CBS; EP Dick Wolf) -- S: Tom Ellis -- Premieres 2/23/26
Please tell me that Tom Ellis doesn't use his weird American accent. It was so unsettling in Lucifer.
11-20-25 | 10:47 PM
#12
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re: CIA (CBS; EP Dick Wolf) -- S: Tom Ellis -- Premieres 2/23/26
https://deadline.com/2025/11/necar-z...&utm_id=648033
Necar Zadegan from Mayor of Kingstown and NCIS New Orleans has joined the cast. She will be the new station chief. She's replacing Michael Michele, who I posted about earlier, who quit the show.
The story also mentions that FBI's showrunner has officially signed on as this series showrunner. He will be doing double duty.
Necar Zadegan from Mayor of Kingstown and NCIS New Orleans has joined the cast. She will be the new station chief. She's replacing Michael Michele, who I posted about earlier, who quit the show.
The story also mentions that FBI's showrunner has officially signed on as this series showrunner. He will be doing double duty.
12-16-25 | 09:55 PM
#13
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re: CIA (CBS; EP Dick Wolf) -- S: Tom Ellis -- Premieres 2/23/26
1st trailer
02-13-26 | 01:17 PM
#14
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re: CIA (CBS; EP Dick Wolf) -- S: Tom Ellis -- Premieres 2/23/26
Another trailer
and I read there will be a crossover episode with FBi this season
and I read there will be a crossover episode with FBi this season
02-23-26 | 11:22 AM
#15
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re: CIA (CBS; EP Dick Wolf) -- S: Tom Ellis -- Premieres 2/23/26
This is officially starting tonight. It's also a crossover with FBI. Sisto is guest starring
WHEN A TOP-SECRET WEAPON IS STOLEN IN BROAD DAYLIGHT, CIA AGENT COLIN GLASS AND FBI AGENT BILL GOODMAN'S NEW PARTNERSHIP GETS OFF TO A ROCKY START DUE TO THEIR OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS, ON THE SERIES PREMIERE OF "CIA," MONDAY, FEB. 23
Jeremy Sisto Guest Stars as FBI's Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jubal Valentine
"Directed Energy" - When a top-secret weapon is stolen in broad daylight from a U.S. defense contractor, CIA agent Colin Glass is paired with FBI agent Bill Goodman to investigate. Their new partnership gets off to a rocky start, but they soon realize their opposing viewpoints may be their greatest asset, on the series premiere of CIA, Monday, Feb. 23 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ Premium plan subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs)*. Jeremy Sisto guest stars as FBI's Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jubal Valentine.
WRITTEN BY: Mike Weiss
DIRECTED BY: Ken Girotti
Jeremy Sisto Guest Stars as FBI's Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jubal Valentine
"Directed Energy" - When a top-secret weapon is stolen in broad daylight from a U.S. defense contractor, CIA agent Colin Glass is paired with FBI agent Bill Goodman to investigate. Their new partnership gets off to a rocky start, but they soon realize their opposing viewpoints may be their greatest asset, on the series premiere of CIA, Monday, Feb. 23 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ Premium plan subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs)*. Jeremy Sisto guest stars as FBI's Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jubal Valentine.
WRITTEN BY: Mike Weiss
DIRECTED BY: Ken Girotti
02-24-26 | 07:30 PM
#16
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DVD Talk God
Re: CIA (CBS; EP Dick Wolf) -- S: Tom Ellis -- Premieres 2/23/26
I watched it today. It was fine. If it wasn't called CIA, this could have easily been an episode of FBI. Basically it's a new CIA unit operating in conjunction with the FBI, which explains why they have jurisdiction. Gehlfuss' character "Bill" is like the Dudley do right type.
Jubal makes a brief appearance at the beginning and end.
Also interesting to note, this was episode 106. No, they didn't air it out of order. They introduced everyone here. But, this was obviously the 1st episode the new showrunner took over after all the creative turmoil, So probably the other episodes will have certain scenes that were re-shot
Now at the end, they said this unit has the infamous "mole"
Jubal makes a brief appearance at the beginning and end.
Also interesting to note, this was episode 106. No, they didn't air it out of order. They introduced everyone here. But, this was obviously the 1st episode the new showrunner took over after all the creative turmoil, So probably the other episodes will have certain scenes that were re-shot
Now at the end, they said this unit has the infamous "mole"
03-10-26 | 08:02 AM
#17
DVD Talk Legend
Re: CIA (CBS; EP Dick Wolf) -- S: Tom Ellis -- Premieres 2/23/26
The guy from Chicago Med somehow looks much younger here than he did on that show. Seems to be a combo of losing weight and being clean shaven. Took me like half the first episode to recognize him.
03-10-26 | 05:22 PM
#18
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DVD Talk God
Re: CIA (CBS; EP Dick Wolf) -- S: Tom Ellis -- Premieres 2/23/26
Episode 3, which just aired, definitely made the Chinese look shady.
liked Ellis’ fake American accent. And then Colin and Bill getting their ass kicked by that tiny Assassin.
This was basically to get Bill more into this division of the CIA and closer to Colin.
I highly doubt that Nikki or even Colin are the moles, especially since Tom Ellis is basically the lead of this series.
liked Ellis’ fake American accent. And then Colin and Bill getting their ass kicked by that tiny Assassin.This was basically to get Bill more into this division of the CIA and closer to Colin.
I highly doubt that Nikki or even Colin are the moles, especially since Tom Ellis is basically the lead of this series.
03-23-26 | 12:56 PM
#19
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Re: CIA (CBS; EP Dick Wolf) -- S: Tom Ellis -- Premieres 2/23/26
Renewed
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