"CIA "Season 1: All About the "FBI "Spinoff Starring Tom Ellis and Nick Gehlfuss Emily BlackwoodFebruary 11, 2026 at 9:30 PM 0 Nick Gehlfuss and Tom Ellis in the CBS original series 'CIA '. In 2025, CBS ordered a spinoff of the hit drama FBI CIA will star Tom Ellis and Nick Gehlfuss as partners with different styles, working to take down domestic terror threats Though the series falls within the FBI universe, only one crossover from the original series has been confirmed so far Fans of FBI have another heartpumping procedural to add to their watchlist. On Feb.
- - "CIA "Season 1: All About the "FBI "Spinoff Starring Tom Ellis and Nick Gehlfuss
Emily BlackwoodFebruary 11, 2026 at 9:30 PM
0
Nick Gehlfuss and Tom Ellis in the CBS original series 'CIA '.
In 2025, CBS ordered a spinoff of the hit drama FBI
CIA will star Tom Ellis and Nick Gehlfuss as partners with different styles, working to take down domestic terror threats
Though the series falls within the FBI universe, only one crossover from the original series has been confirmed so far
Fans of FBI have another heart-pumping procedural to add to their watchlist.
On Feb. 23, CIA will premiere on CBS, starring Tom Ellis and Nick Gehlfuss as "two unlikely partners" working out of the Central Intelligence Agency's New York station. According to the one-hour drama's official synopsis, they "must learn to work together to investigate cases and criminals posing threats on U.S. soil, finding that their differences may actually be their strength."
The Dick Wolf-produced series was first ordered in January 2025, when TVLine reported that the drama would premiere as a backdoor pilot during FBI's seventh season. Those plans changed, and CBS officially greenlit the series three months later with Ellis in the lead role, per Variety.
The news followed the cancellations of two other FBI spinoffs: FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International.
Here's everything to know about CIA, including how it fits into the FBI universe.
What is CIA about?
Nick Gehlfuss as FBI Agent Bill Goodman in 'CIA' ; Tom Ellis as CIA Agent Colin Glass in 'CIA.'
Jason Bell/CBS (2)
Ellis plays Colin Glass, a "fast-talking, rule-breaking loose cannon CIA case officer" who gets paired up with Bill Goodman (Gehlfuss), a "by-the-book, seasoned and smart FBI agent who believes in the rule of law."
"Obviously, we're going to work in the world of the procedural format that we've set up on FBI," Ellis told TVLine in June 2025. "What we're looking to do is explore the notion of why these agencies don't normally work together."
The actor said that part of former showrunner David Hudgins' inspiration for the show came from what the 9/11 terrorist attacks revealed about what's at risk when the FBI and the CIA don't collaborate.
"What we're exploring with this show is what would happen if you teamed up this experienced field agent from the CIA with this guy from the FBI, and it becomes a very productive relationship," Ellis said.
However, Ellis added that their dynamic will also prove difficult as "they have very different philosophies about how to achieve their goals."
How does CIA fit into the FBI universe?
Jeremy Sisto as Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jubal Valentine in 'FBI.'
David M. Russell/CBS
Though CIA is technically a spinoff of FBI, Hudgins told TV Insider that the drama is "a very different style of storytelling" that focuses more on the relationship between Goodman and Glass.
"The dynamic between these two is what I hope will be the hook of the show," he said in May 2025. "A-stories and 'crimes of the week' are always crucial but with CIA, we have this added layer of relationship between our two main 'odd-couple' characters. I think people will want to tune in to see what's going to happen next with these two, because there will be many ups and downs."
At the time, Hudgins told FBI fans not to get too excited for crossovers from the original show. However, FBI star Jeremy Sisto is set to guest-star as Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jubal Valentine in the first episode of CIA.
He's played the character on the hit CBS series since its 2018 debut.
Who is in the cast?
Tom Ellis attends the "Tell Me Lies" Season 3 Screening on Jan. 12, 2026 in New York City ; Nick Gehlfuss at the "Law & Order" 25th Anniversary Celebration on Jan. 06, 2026 in New York.
Dia Dipasupil/Getty ; John Nacion/Variety via Getty
Ellis was first announced as the lead role in April 2025, later describing his character to TVLine as "stuck in what some CIA agents might think was the boring end of the job." Ellis added that Glass, like many CIA agents, must "use guile and deceit and lies to get what he wants."
In September 2025, Variety reported that Gehlfuss had joined the cast as Goodman. The Chicago Med alum noted the similarities between his new role and his iconic role of Dr. Will Halstead, telling TVLine that they're "both passionate about what they do," but still have some key differences.
"Very different from Will," he said of his longtime role in a January 2026 interview. "Bill operates black and white ... [and] has this moral compass that he will never veer from."
In addition to Ellis and Gehlfuss, the CIA cast also includes NCIS: New Orleans alum Necar Zadegan as a supervisor in the CIA and Tell Me Lies actress Natalee Linez as a CIA analyst, per Deadline.
When will CIA be released?
Tom Ellis in the CBS original series 'CIA '.
CIA will premiere on CBS on Monday, Feb. 23 at 10 p.m. ET. The pilot episode, titled "Directed Energy," begins with newly appointed partners Glass and Goodman investigating a top-secret weapon that was "stolen in broad daylight from a U.S. defense contractor."
Where can I watch CIA?
Nick Gehlfuss in the CBS original series 'CIA '.
New episodes of CIA will be released on CBS every Monday and will be available to stream on Paramount+ the following day.
on People
Source: "AOL Entertainment"
Source: Entertainment
Published: February 11, 2026 at 08:45AM on Source: PRIME TIME
#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle