Copyright Screen Rant
CIA, the FBI spinoff, is losing a major cast member. The spinoff was first announced in April, with the news that Lucifer and Tell Me Lies star Tom Ellis was tapped to headline the latest FBI offshoot at CBS. The actor has previewed that he'll play Hart Hoxton, a character who sometimes disregards the rules to get what he wants. News followed in September that Chicago Med alum Nick Gehlfuss and The Equalizer's Michael Michele were joining the spinoff, as the second and third leads, respectively. Gehlfuss, who plays Will Halstead in the One Chicago franchise, will have the role of Ellis' partner as the two initially clash over their different methods for solving cases. Deadline reveals that Michele is exiting CIA. The veteran actress, known for her roles in ER and Homicide: Life on the Street, was reportedly slated to play the boss of the CIA's New York Station. It's unclear whether the part will be recast. Michele's departure marks the latest shift for the closely watched CBS project. Although it was originally planned to debut this year, CIA's premiere was delayed to 2026 as it brought in a new showrunner. Warren Leight, who previously worked on Law & Order: SVU, replaced FBI: Most Wanted showrunner David Hudgins amidst a creative retooling. The original plan would have seen three characters, including the one played by Ellis, being introduced first in the main FBI series before moving on to the spinoff. However, the project has faced a few casting setbacks. CIA hails from executive producers Dick Wolf and Warren Leight, in addition to Nicole Perlman, David Chasteen, and Peter Jankowski. It's produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with Wolf Entertainment and CBS Studios. Michele's departure is another casting change to add to the pile. But the core conceit of the spinoff remains the same. CIA will follow two unlikely partners. One is a rule-breaking CIA case officer, played by Ellis. The other, played by Gehlfuss, is more traditional. He's a seasoned and smart FBI agent who believes in the rule of law. The odd couple is assigned to work together at the CIA's New York Station.
