CBS axes FBI International and Most Wanted while launching new CIA spinoff

CBS has officially canceled two of its FBI franchise series, FBI: International and FBI: Most Wanted, as part of its 2025–2026 programming overhaul. 

However, the network is still moving forward with a new spinoff, FBI: CIA, which will focus on domestic terrorism cases in New York City.

According to Deadline, FBI: Most Wanted season 6 and FBI: International season 4 will conclude in the spring of 2025, allowing the shows' writers to provide closure for fans. While CBS has not released an official reason for the cancellations, industry reports suggest declining ratings and an overcrowded schedule played key roles. FBI: Most Wanted averaged 6.5 million viewers (down 10% from last season), while FBI: International drew 6.53 million viewers, ranking them below seven other CBS dramas, including NCIS, Blue Bloods, and Tracker.

Despite these cuts, CBS remains committed to expanding the FBI universe with FBI: CIA, which follows a by-the-book FBI agent and a street-smart CIA operative forming a clandestine task force. The spinoff's lead characters will debut in an upcoming FBI season 7 episode, serving as a backdoor pilot. CBS' recent trend of prioritizing new spinoffs, such as Sheriff Country (from Fire Country) and Boston Blue (from Blue Bloods), suggests that FBI: CIA is positioned for a straight-to-series order.

While fans must say goodbye to FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International, CBS may integrate some of their characters into FBI or FBI: CIA. However, no official announcements have been made regarding cast transitions.