FBI: Most Wanted getting a new showrunner: What does this mean?

From Emmy Award winner Dick Wolf and the team behind FBI and the "Law & Order" franchise, FBI: MOST WANTED will premiere Tuesday, Jan. 7 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT). FBI: MOST WANTED stars Julian McMahon in a high-stakes drama that focuses on the Fugitive Task Force, which relentlessly tracks and captures the notorious criminals on the Bureau's Most Wanted list. Seasoned agent Jess LaCroix (McMahon) oversees the highly skilled team that functions as a mobile undercover unit that's always out in the field, pursuing those who are most desperate to elude justice. Roxy Sternberg, Nathaniel Arcand, Keisha Castle-Hughes and Kellan Lutz also star. NCIS: NEW ORLEANS will move to Sundays (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) beginning Feb. 16, forming a strong two-hour NCIS block, with NCIS: LOS ANGELES at 9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT. Pictured (L-R) Kellan Lutz as FBI Agent Crosby; Nathaniel Arcand as FBI Agent Clinton Skye; Roxy Sternberg as FBI Agent Sheryll Barnes and Julian McMahon as FBI Agent Jess Lacroix Photo: Michael Parmelee/CBS ©2019 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved
From Emmy Award winner Dick Wolf and the team behind FBI and the "Law & Order" franchise, FBI: MOST WANTED will premiere Tuesday, Jan. 7 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT). FBI: MOST WANTED stars Julian McMahon in a high-stakes drama that focuses on the Fugitive Task Force, which relentlessly tracks and captures the notorious criminals on the Bureau's Most Wanted list. Seasoned agent Jess LaCroix (McMahon) oversees the highly skilled team that functions as a mobile undercover unit that's always out in the field, pursuing those who are most desperate to elude justice. Roxy Sternberg, Nathaniel Arcand, Keisha Castle-Hughes and Kellan Lutz also star. NCIS: NEW ORLEANS will move to Sundays (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) beginning Feb. 16, forming a strong two-hour NCIS block, with NCIS: LOS ANGELES at 9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT. Pictured (L-R) Kellan Lutz as FBI Agent Crosby; Nathaniel Arcand as FBI Agent Clinton Skye; Roxy Sternberg as FBI Agent Sheryll Barnes and Julian McMahon as FBI Agent Jess Lacroix Photo: Michael Parmelee/CBS ©2019 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved /
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David Hudgins will be the new showrunner for FBI: Most Wanted

FBI: Most Wanted has a new showrunner, but what exactly is this going to mean for the series?

René Balcer has stepped down as showrunner of the series. Friday Night Lights‘ co-showrunner David Hudgins is stepping into the role, according to Deadline.

Why? That’s not 100% clear, except that the show is moving in a new creative direction. We’re not sure what that means for the series. Usually, it’s linked to the way the studio wants to go not being the same as the direction the showrunner wants to take the series in. This can often mean showrunners step back to bring in someone who will take the series in the direction the studio wants it to go in.

Not the first FBI showrunner change

This is not surprising for the world of FBI as a whole. The parent series has seen two showrunner changes since its start in October 2018.

More from FBI: Most Wanted News

Greg Plageman took from Craig Turk, the co-creator of the series, who decided to leave in July 2018 after the show was picked up to series. The pilot episode also had to be reshot due to a change of cast.

Then in October 2018, Plageman left. Chicago PD‘s Rick Eid and Chicago Fire‘s Derek Haas took over showrunning duties for the series, splitting the duties so they could both continue to work on their Chicago shows.

What is surprising is that it’s Balcer who is leaving. He has regularly worked with Dick Wolf on the Law & Order series and has also consulted on the original FBI. 

Will FBI: Most Wanted filming be pushed?

It’s unlikely that this will affect plans for FBI: Most Wanted to return to filming for its second season. The plans have been to return to filming at the end of September at the earliest.

Will it mean changes to any future crossovers with other FBI or Chicago shows? Considering the nature of filming this year, crossovers possibly aren’t happening, especially on shows across different cities, anyway.

dark. Next. What FBI: Most Wanted's move to the fall means for the series

FBI: Most Wanted Season 2 is set to air Tuesdays at 10/9c on CBS in the fall.