2 FBI Franchise Shows Cancelled By CBS As CIA Spinoff’s Development Reportedly Heats Up

The FBI franchise's future has hit a major setback as two of its shows have been cancelled, while its upcoming FBI: CIA spinoff continues development. The successful franchise, created by Dick Wolf, has been running on CBS since 2018, showcasing the missions of various teams of agents doing different types of missions. There are three shows in the procedural series currently airing, those being FBI season 7, FBI: Most Wanted season 6, and FBI: International season 4. FBI: CIA is expected to be the next show added to the roster, planned to expand the franchise even further.

Now, Deadline has confirmed a major setback for the FBI franchise, with FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International both being cancelled at CBS. This means Most Wanted season 7 and International season 5 will not be happening. Both shows had been high-profile parts of the franchise, with the report stating it's unclear if the series will be shopped to other networks.

At present, the move appears to coincide with FBI: CIA's development, which is set to air a backdoor pilot through the main series at some point in the future. Deadline reports that the show would likely get a straight-to-series order, depending on the talent that ends up attached.

What FBI's Cancellations Mean For The Franchise's Future

The Spinoffs Are Being Retired While Another Takes Its Place

The cancellations of both FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International come with the knowledge that FBI has been renewed through season 9, meaning the franchise isn't going anywhere anytime soon. While both spinoffs don't get as many live viewers as the main show, they're still able to pull attention. In the shows' latest episodes, Most Wanted got 4.17 million views and International scored 4.8 million, though still far from the main show's 6.28 million. They're not bad numbers, though, making it unclear why FBI season 8 is the only one set to air in the 2025-26 primetime season.

It appears CBS' current focus is on getting FBI: CIA off the ground, with the spinoff allegedly having major names attached to portray its team. The show isn't the only new spinoff on the network later this year, with Fire Country spinoff Sheriff Country and the upcoming Blue Bloods show Boston Blue also set to air. The expansion of multiple franchises at once is a good sign for the channel's successful shows – but also means some had to fall to the wayside to make room for future projects.

Our Take On 2 FBI Shows Getting Cancelled

An Unfortunate Development Despite The Series' Success

It's clear from CBS' development of a fourth spinoff that FBI is a lucrative franchise for the network, with shows that are getting strong viewership numbers. What makes the cancellation of FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International so disappointing is that they appear to be getting axed to make room for an entirely new show featuring new characters. While FBI: CIA will likely be a success, it's at the cost of series that have proven themselves solid bets for viewership, even if they're not as high as the original show.

Source: Deadline