CIA being pulled from CBS’ Fall 2025 line-up was disappointing for followers of the FBI franchise. However the present’s star, Tom Ellis, has an replace that’ll get viewers enthusiastic about what’s to come back. Manufacturing begins on the sequence in September, and Ellis believes the script is in “a extremely great spot.”
The procedural was bumped to a midseason launch as a result of a showrunner change that noticed FBI: Most Needed‘s David Hudgins exiting and Warren Leight (Regulation and Order: SVU) coming onboard. This necessitated script tweaks and extra consideration to the present’s route. In an interview with Collider, Ellis took a second to share how far alongside CIA is in its growth.
We haven’t began but. We begin taking pictures in September as a result of we’re going to be a midseason. No, we haven’t executed a pilot, which is a extremely unusual expertise for me. That usually is your time for locating your character, discovering out what the present is, experimenting with tone, and all these various things. We haven’t bought there but. However the script is in a extremely great spot. They’re nonetheless casting in the mean time. We’re looking for the particular person I’m going to play reverse, basically. What I’d say is that I’ve had a good time with the individuals from Dick Wolf Productions. They’ve been extremely enthusiastic and supportive about what we’re doing. I believe there’s a shared feeling that we want to actually make our mark as a present. I believe initially we had been going to be a spin out sequence from FBI. The extra it’s gone on, I believe we’re truly gaining our personal identification.
Initially, CIA was supposed to have a backdoor pilot that will introduce Ellis’ character Hart Hoxton to the broader FBI world and viewership earlier than being launched into his personal sequence. However now he will be hitting the bottom operating and the powers that be need to guarantee they get this proper as quickly as they depart the gate.
Crafting Hoxton’s dynamic with his FBI partner is a key a part of the formulation. The position of the by-the-book flip to Hoxton’s rule-defying nature might be important to the procedural’s success. Ellis advised as a lot when he acknowledged, “The central relationship between my character and the FBI character goes to be very a lot a driving drive for the present.”
What Does Tom Ellis’ Filming Replace Imply For CIA
Manufacturing beginning in September means we’ll quickly be taught who will star reverse Ellis in CIA. It additionally leaves open the opportunity of a crossover with FBI early on in season 1. The flagship started filming its eighth season in August. Although CBS scrapped CIA‘s pilot, that does not imply the 2025-2026 tv season will go with out these two worlds colliding.
In the meanwhile, the precedence is getting the procedural up on its toes and giving it room to garner consideration. CBS likes an extended runway for his or her new sequence to launch from, creating buzz and anticipation as they depend all the way down to the premiere.
Our Take On Tom Ellis’ CIA Filming Replace
Ellis additionally acknowledged, “Although we’re going to be a case of the week sort of procedural, we’re going to spend a bit extra time with our fundamental characters than they historically do on a variety of these Wolf reveals,” which is a welcome change. The character dynamics within the FBI universe are a continuing supply of dialog.
Followers need extra character growth and peeks into the brokers’ lives outdoors the sphere. The case of the week format is enjoyable however the viewers returns for the characters. That is why there’s such a powerful pull for Maggie and OA’s friendship, the romance between Scola and Nina, and the bond that Cameron and Wes share. It will likely be nice to see CIA diving much more deeply into that aspect.