Tom Ellis of the CIA Hints at an FBI Crossover in Season 1
The FBI franchise is set to lose two spinoffs for the 2025-2026 season, but CIA aims to fill that gap and provide crossover possibilities.
“We’re going to build on what the FBI series has established in that universe,” CIA star Tom Ellis shared exclusively with Us Weekly at CBS Fest 2025 on Wednesday, May 7. “Our perspective will be from the CIA’s angle.”
At 46, the actor hinted, “There may be occasional crossovers with FBI, but the main focus will be on how the CIA operates domestically and the importance of collaboration between these distinct agencies for the greater good.”
Ellis elaborated that “it would enhance things if there were more interaction,” although that won’t always be straightforward.
CBS announced in April that CIA, which will inhabit the same universe as Dick Wolf’s FBI, has been approved for the 2025-2026 broadcast season. Currently, FBI features stars like Zeeko Zaki, Missy Peregrym, Jeremy Sisto, John Boyd, and Alana De La Garza.
CIA will be a one-hour series focusing on “two unlikely partners”: one a “quick-witted, rebellious CIA case officer” portrayed by Ellis, and the other a “disciplined, seasoned FBI agent who trusts the law,” according to the official logline.
“When this unlikely duo is assigned to CIA’s New York Station, they’ll need to collaborate to tackle cases and threats on U.S. soil, discovering that their differences may actually serve as their strength,” noted CBS in a press release.
While Ellis remains somewhat reserved regarding season 1 details, he confirmed to Us that the crux of the series revolves around the “unconventional pairing” of his CIA character and his FBI counterpart.
The Lucifer alumnus described his role as one who doesn’t “adhere strictly to the rules” and must be “quite crafty.” In contrast, Ellis’ counterpart is characterized as “very much by-the-book.”
Ellis emphasized that they share the same goal of solving cases: “They just approach it differently. And that’s the fun,” he hinted.
While viewers can look forward to potential FBI crossovers in the future, CIA will focus on distinct characters and won’t serve as a direct spinoff like FBI: International and FBI: Most Wanted.
Earlier this year, CBS announced that International — featuring Jesse Lee Soffer — and Most Wanted — starring Dylan McDermott — would not return for their respective fifth and seventh seasons, despite having a dedicated fanbase. The final episodes of FBI’s seventh season air on Tuesday, May 20, along with the spinoffs’ series finales.
“Ending shows is never simple, and we faced many options this year,” CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach explained to reporters during CBS’ schedule announcement on Wednesday. “Our schedule is quite packed, so we must evaluate all our shows, taking into account the cumulative data, the creative trajectory, their financials, the ratings, and then make these difficult calls.”
The flagship FBI series is set to return for its eighth season this fall, followed by CIA on Tuesday nights.
As fans anticipate the premiere of CIA, Ellis expressed to Us that he’s “very thrilled” to join the network and Wolf’s lineup of shows. He remarked on the fantastic fan response, particularly given that no footage has yet been released.
“It’s a fantastic glimpse into how much the Dick Wolf universe signifies to many,” Ellis commented on Wednesday. “It’s exhilarating for me to harness the enthusiasm generated by these other shows to kick off this one. I’m simply very eager to be part of this family.”
