A former NCIS star is joining the new FBI: CIA spinoff amid some wild creative turnover happening behind the scenes!
FBI: CIA is the next offshoot of the hit CBS franchise. While FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International were both unexpectedly ended in 2025, CBS still has hopes of continuing the franchise with this new installment that focuses on a joint task force with a CIA operative (Tom Ellis) paired with an FBI agent (Nick Gehlfuss) handling various threats in New York from spying to terrorism.
Deadline now reports that Necar Zadegan has been cast on the show in the role of the Chief of Station. She’s replacing Michael Michelle, who had departed earlier in November. Zadegan is best known for her role as Hannah Khoury on the last three seasons of NCIS: New Orleans and currently stars on the Paramount+ drama Mayor of Kingstown. She joins Ellis, Gehlfuss, and Natalee Linez, who plays a CIA analyst.
Zadegan’s casting only adds to the already chaotic production of this spinoff that’s becoming its own drama!
What is happening with FBI: CIA?
The saga began in early 2025 when CBS announced plans for a new FBI series focused on the CIA. The plan had been for FBI season 7 to have an episode that would act as a backdoor pilot for the series, but that never came off.
Instead, CBS ordered it direct to series while also canceling Most Wanted and International. It was set for the fall 2025 season only to run into the first of many roadblocks. The first major sign of trouble was that by mid-summer, there was still no casting news besides Ellis and scripts were still being worked on.
Then, in July, Michele and director/executive producer Eriq La Salle suddenly departed the series. They were joined shortly afterward by showrunner David Hudgins. Law & Order producer Warren Leight took over as showrunner as CBS altered the schedule with FBI: CIA now set for mid-season.
Leight then left as the showrunner in early November, shortly after the series began production, with Mike Weiss (who also handles the mothership FBI series) replacing him. That’s delayed production, although CBS still has the show scheduled to premiere Monday, February 23.
While troubling, it should be pointed out that the original FBI had two showrunner changes before its premiere in 2018. It may be that Dick Wolf Entertainment is trying to ensure the series works rather than just rush it to air, but the constant changes are a bit concerning. It's only added to worries that CBS made a mistake in canceling the other spinoffs before this new one was ready.
Hopefully, it comes together, and this spinoff works, as adding a familiar NCIS face can aid FBI: CIA when it finally reaches audiences.
FBI: CIA premieres Monday February 23 at 10/9c on CBS.