Hold up procedural fans! Big news just dropped and it is not good if you are a fan of the FBI universe on CBS. Brace yourselves because CBS just swung the cancellation axe and two major players are getting the boot: FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International are both done after their current seasons. Yep you read that right. Time to say goodbye to those agents.
Why the Sudden Shutdown? Unpacking the Reasons Behind the FBI Spin-Off Cancellations
So why did CBS pull the plug on two pretty popular shows? Turns out it is the classic Hollywood story: money. Word is that financial factors played a big role. Both FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International are produced by Wolf Entertainment and Universal Television which is an outside studio not CBS's in-house production arm. Apparently renewal talks between CBS and Universal TV got a bit bumpy with costs being a major sticking point.
It sounds like CBS is trying to tighten its belt a bit. They even reportedly asked the main casts of FBI and FBI: Most Wanted to take pay cuts last year. FBI: International with its smaller cast and international actors was somehow spared that particular cost-cutting measure. Ultimately it seems like CBS decided they could not justify the expense of keeping both spin-offs going especially with a potential new spin-off FBI: CIA in development.
Think of it like TV real estate. CBS has a limited amount of space on their schedule and with a bunch of renewals already locked in for other dramas like NCIS and Fire Country something had to give to make way for new shows and potential franchise expansions like FBI: CIA and even a Fire Country spin-off Sheriff Country.
Fan Fury and Franchise Future: Viewers React to the Cancellations and Wonder About What's Next
Unsurprisingly fans are not happy about this cancellation bomb. Social media is buzzing with disappointed viewers. Many are scratching their heads because FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International both pull in decent ratings comparable to or even better than some shows that got renewed. Some fans are straight up angry with CBS asking why axe shows people actually watch for a new spin-off nobody asked for. Ouch.
The cancellation announcement also raises questions about the actors. Dylan McDermott who leads FBI: Most Wanted and Jesse Lee Soffer of FBI: International both jumped to these spin-offs from other Dick Wolf shows like Law & Order: Organized Crime and Chicago P.D. Will they be out of a job now? Well maybe not completely. Dick Wolf shows are known for characters hopping between series so there is always a chance we could see these actors pop up on the main FBI show or maybe even this new FBI: CIA spin-off if it actually happens.
Speaking of FBI: CIA its existence is probably a big reason why Most Wanted and International got the chop. CBS clearly wants to keep the FBI train rolling and a new spin-off set in the world of the CIA could be their way of refreshing the franchise and maybe making it more financially viable. Casting for FBI: CIA is underway and if they land some big names it sounds like CBS might give it a straight-to-series order.
Silver Linings? Series Finales and a Possible New FBI Chapter on the Horizon
Okay so it is not all doom and gloom. The good news is that FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International are still filming their current seasons. This means the showrunners will have time to tweak the scripts and give these shows proper series finales. No cliffhangers here unlike some other recent cancellations cough NCIS: Hawaii cough. So at least we will get some closure for the characters we have been following.
And while it is sad to see Most Wanted and International go remember the FBI universe is not completely shutting down. The mothership FBI show is still going strong it was even renewed for three more seasons all the way to season nine. And there is this potential FBI: CIA spin-off brewing. So while we are losing two shows we might be gaining a new one to fill the void. Whether fans will embrace FBI: CIA after losing Most Wanted and International remains to be seen. But in the ever-churning world of TV drama the FBI franchise is definitely not down for the count yet.
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