‘FBI’ Fans Get Disappointing News from CBS

The network has cancelled two recent spinoffs of the ‘FBI’ procedural drama.

Courtesy of CBS

Two weeks ago, CBS renewed nine shows for its upcoming TV season, bringing its total of returning series to 16. Unfortunately, two shows that will not be joining that list are FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International, as Deadline reported the two spinoffs have been canceled after six and four seasons, respectively.

Most Wanted and International are offshoots of the “mothership” series FBI, which is currently in its seventh season, and the first of its three-year renewal deal. Starring Dylan McDermott, Most Wanted followed the New York Fugitive Task Force (FTF), which relentlessly tracks and captures the notorious and dangerous criminals on the FBI’s Most Wanted list. International covers terrorism conducted abroad, and is led by Jesse Lee Soffer.

The FBI franchise is a product of Dick Wolf, the creator of the Law & Order and Chicago universes, via Universal TV and Wolf Entertainment.

While the two shows have been canceled on CBS, given their solid ratings, there’s a chance they may be shopped around to other networks and streamers. For example, another Wolf product, Law & Order: Organized Crime, will kick off its fifth season in April 2025, having moved from NBC to Peacock.

No matter where these spinoffs may be going–if anywhere–their departure is guaranteed to make room for the latest piece of the FBI universe. Only three years ago, both shows were getting two-season renewals, showing a strong sign of health overall. But Deadline alleges that financial issues have caused considerable cutbacks, including FBI and FBI: Most Wanted reducing the main cast’s minimum guarantees in 2024.

While losing two FBI shows in 2025 is a major hit, this does help clear the way for the already-announced spinoff FBI: CIA. The new series, which has earned its fair share of online ribbing for its naming conventions, is currently in development. The New York-set FBI: CIA is expected to have a backdoor pilot air in the back half of FBI Season 7 over the next two months.

FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International are both in the midst of airing the second half of their seasons, having returned from midseason hiatus on Jan. 28. It’s unknown how much these finales will resolve any major character storylines, or if fans will be left in the lurch, much like the shows proper were with this cancellation news.