The FBI franchise lives on despite CBS' cancelations of two of its TV shows, with the original flagship series guaranteed at least two more seasons and a new FBI spinoff in development. According to Deadline, CBS canceled FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International in 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 after the network previously announced a third FBI spinoff is in the works — FBI: CIA.
In January 2025, news outlets reported that CBS is developing another installment in the FBI franchise. 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 in an episode of FBI season 7 that serves as a backdoor pilot for FBI: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 of FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International makes sense when looking at the big picture and thinking about logistics. The network has to make 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.
Per TVLine, FBI: Most Wanted season 6 is averaging 6.5 million viewers, down 10% from last year. Meanwhile, FBI: International season 4 is averaging 6.53 million viewers, also down 10% from its previous totals. According to those numbers, both TV shows in the FBI franchise rank below seven other CBS dramas that have aired during the 2024–2025 season. Tracker, Matlock, FBI, Blue Bloods, NCIS, Elsbeth, and Watson have all performed better than FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: 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 cancelations of FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International, the FBI flagship 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 Country and Blue Bloods) to bank on their success (even if that means leaving the original and older TV series behind).
CBS' Future Spinoffs | Original Series | Status |
|---|---|---|
FBI: CIA | FBI | In development — FBI season 7 is set to air the spinoff's backdoor pilot in the spring of 2025 |
Sheriff Country (starring Morena Baccarin as Mickey Fox) | Fire Country | Set to premiere during the 2025–2026 TV season |
Fire Country: Surfside (starring Jared Padalecki as Camden Casey) | Fire Country | On hold until after Sheriff Country airs (Padalecki also has another show in the works for CBS) |
Boston Blue (starring Donnie Wahlberg as Danny Reagan) | Blue Bloods | Set to premiere during the 2025–2026 TV season |
Untitled Equalizer spinoff (starring Titus Welliver and Juani Feliz) | The Equalizer | Not yet confirmed |
Consequently, CBS is still moving forward with FBI: CIA. In fact, given the cancelations of FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International, FBI: CIA's chances of being ordered to series are looking better than ever. CBS undoubtedly wants to have at least two FBI TV shows in its scheduling lineup. So, it's more than likely that the network will give FBI: CIA a straight-to-series order sooner rather than later, especially once the cast is announced (which Deadline reports 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 to FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International in 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 join FBI or FBI:CIA. Well, in Shantel VanSanten's case, she would theoretically rejoin the FBI cast as Nina Chase. As for other actors, only time will tell what their characters' fates will be in the FBI franchise once FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International end.
Sources: Deadline, TVLine
