CBS is canceling two FBI spinoffs: FBI: Most Wanted after six seasons and FBI: International after four seasons, impacting stars like Dylan McDermott and Jesse Lee Soffer. This decision enhances the prospects of the new spinoff, FBI: CIA, currently in development. While both canceled shows still have episodes left to air, it’s unclear if they will be pitched to other networks. The cancellations reflect CBS’s need to make room for new dramas and stem from cost-cutting measures, including reduced cast guarantees. Other new and potential shows, like Equalizer’s spinoff, are also in development at CBS.
The anticipated cuts to CBS’ series lineup have commenced with the cancellation of two notable shows. The network has decided not to renew the FBI spinoffs, FBI: Most Wanted, concluding its run after six seasons, and FBI: International, which has been axed after four seasons. Both series, produced by Wolf Entertainment and Universal Television, feature prominent stars such as Dylan McDermott (Most Wanted) and Jesse Lee Soffer (International), who transitioned to these spinoffs from other Dick Wolf productions, Law & Order: Organized Crime and Chicago P.D., respectively.
The cancellations leave the main series, FBI, which is currently in its seventh season and has secured a three-year renewal, alongside a potential new spinoff in development, FBI: CIA. The cancellation of Most Wanted and International improves the prospects for FBI: CIA. This spinoff will debut as part of a mothership episode, and casting is underway, with several actors in discussions. Depending on the talent attached, the project may receive a direct-to-series order.
It remains uncertain whether Universal TV and Wolf Entertainment will seek to place the two FBI spinoffs, which continue to achieve robust linear ratings comparable to or exceeding many renewed CBS dramas like NCIS: Origins, NCIS: Sydney, and Elsbeth, with other platforms. Last year, the teams successfully relocated a Law & Order spinoff, Organized Crime, from NBC to Peacock.
If that does not materialize, I have learned that both FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International are still filming their current seasons, with several episodes remaining, allowing for script adjustments to transition season finales into series finales.
This represents a significant turnaround for the two FBI spinoffs, which were granted two-season renewals just three years ago, alongside the flagship FBI series. Like many of Wolf’s procedural franchises, FBI has established a branded night on Tuesdays. Given a primetime block of three hours, it became evident that CBS needed to cancel one of the spinoffs to create space for FBI: CIA and retain all shows on the same night—ultimately leading to two cancellations.
The FBI franchise is produced by Universal Television, an external supplier. CBS has faced challenging renewal discussions with the NBCUniversal studio in recent years, with financial aspects likely influencing today’s cancellations. (Renewal negotiations for a sixth and potentially final season of Equalizer are still ongoing between the two parties.)
In a bid to reduce costs, both FBI and FBI: Most Wanted scaled back the minimum guarantees for the main cast. (International was unaffected due to its smaller regular cast, half of which consists of international actors.)
Another challenge is the issue of available programming slots. With a slew of current series receiving renewals in recent months, including NCIS, NCIS: Origins, NCIS: Sydney, Tracker, Fire Country, Elsbeth, and Matlock, CBS needed to cancel existing dramas to accommodate new entries.
Two drama slots have already been earmarked for next season’s schedule, featuring new series Sheriff Country, a spinoff of Fire Country, and Boston Blue, which expands the Blue Bloods universe.
Alongside FBI: CIA, CBS is also working on a potential spinoff of Equalizer starring Titus Welliver, as well as a highly anticipated drama pilot titled Einstein, featuring Criminal Minds alum Matthew Gray Gubler.
Still uncertain is the fate of Equalizer, alongside another drama from an outside studio, the twice-canceled S.W.A.T. Meanwhile, it is too early to predict the future of the new midseason drama Watson produced by CBS Studios, though it currently appears promising for renewal.
With the cancellation of FBI: Most Wanted, it is uncertain if Shantel VanSanten, who recently transitioned from FBI to the spinoff, would return. Her character welcomed a baby with Scola in Season 5 of Most Wanted. Wolf’s universe is recognized for characters and actors often migrating between different series within the same franchise.