CBS Drops Bombshell: ‘CIA’ Spinoff Removed From Fall Lineup Without Warning

It seems fans are going to have to wait longer than anticipated for FBI’s newest spinoff to arrive.

While the plan was originally for the new CIA spinoff to debut in the fall following new episodes of FBI, CBS will be down to just one FBI franchise show in the fall. This is because CIA is being pulled from the fall lineup and is on the move to midseason, meaning the Tom Ellis-led spinoff will not premiere until 2026.

As first reported by Deadline, part of this sudden and unexpected change comes from CIA undergoing a showrunner change with veteran Wolf Entertainment creative Warren Leight, who served as a showrunner on Law & Order: SVU for several years, taking over as the spinoff’s new showrunner. Leight will succeed David Hudgins, who was originally tapped to oversee the show following his time as showrunner of FBI: Most Wanted.

While the move is sudden, it’s not entirely surprising as development on the show hasn’t exactly been moving in the best direction in recent months. The original plan was for CIA to be introduced as a backdoor pilot within one of the final episodes of FBI’s most recent season. Those plans were ultimately scrapped due to a delay in casting for the spinoff.

Speaking of casting, the show has yet to begin working on building out its cast, with Ellis remaining the only actor attached to the show. Fortunately, that should be changing soon as Deadline hints CIA will begin casting for the show in the weeks ahead as CBS eyes a fall start for production. What is unknown is whether the creative change behind the scenes is going to lead to a creative change to the show’s premise.

Originally, the plan was for the show to follow a pair of unlikely partners: a fast-talking, rule-breaking CIA agent (Ellis) and a more by-the-book, play-by-the-rules FBI agent. Whether that remains the case or if a change comes to the premise of the show remains unclear.

What we do know is that with CIA on the move to midseason, CBS is calling upon Watson to help fill the vacancy left by FBI’s displaced spinoff. Rather than holding the second season of Watson for 2026, CBS has decided to bring the show back in the fall, with Watson season 2 set to air after new episodes of FBI on Monday nights. It’s an exciting update for Watson fans who will no longer have to wait until midseason for the second season of the Morris Chestnut-led medical drama.