CIA gets a disappointing update as the FBI spin-off’s release is pushed to midseason by CBS

In a move that may leave Dick Wolf fans raising an eyebrow, CBS has officially delayed CIA, the much-anticipated spin-off of its long-running FBI franchise. Originally expected to premiere this fall as a key addition to the network’s crime drama lineup, the series has been bumped to midseason—a clear sign that things haven’t exactly gone according to plan behind the scenes.

Announced in April with a straight-to-series order and a promising lead in Lucifer’s Tom Ellis, CIA seemed poised to keep the Wolf Entertainment empire rolling. But casting hiccups, creative uncertainties, and shifting showrunner chairs have apparently slowed the show’s momentum.

This delay isn’t just about scheduling logistics—it hints at deeper developmental issues. While the series still has its sights set on a 2026 launch, it’s entering that “we’ll believe it when we see it” territory. For fans eager to see a fresh espionage-infused twist on the traditional procedural, the wait just got longer—and murkier.

A showrunner switch signals a course correction

Perhaps the biggest jolt to the project came with the quiet exit of David Hudgins, who was originally slated to shepherd the series after co-writing the pilot with Dick Wolf. Hudgins, known for his work on FBI: Most Wanted, has stepped away, and stepping in is Warren Leight, a seasoned Wolf World veteran who previously helmed Law & Order: SVU during two separate stints.

Leight’s arrival brings a layer of credibility and creative experience—but it also underscores just how uncertain CIA’s development has been. With no additional casting announcements since Tom Ellis, and a writers’ room reportedly in motion but lacking finalized production scripts, the show appears to be in creative triage. Whether Leight will tweak the “rogue CIA agent meets buttoned-up FBI counterpart” premise remains to be seen, but if anyone can rescue a delayed procedural, it’s him.

Watson steps in, as CIA steps aside (for now)

While CIA cools its jets, CBS isn’t leaving its coveted Monday 10 PM slot unoccupied. That honor now goes to Watson, the Morris Chestnut-led drama that aired its freshman season earlier this year. Originally expected to return in midseason for Season 2, the show has already started production and will now rejoin the fall lineup—likely a strategic move to maintain CBS’s procedural rhythm.

This early shift could prove vital for Watson, which debuted with just 13 episodes. Midseason runs often struggle to gain long-term traction, but a fall placement signals stronger faith from the network and provides more opportunity to hook viewers. CBS will now kick off Monday nights with The Neighborhood and new comedy DMV, setting the stage for Watson to close out the primetime block with some steady drama.

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CBS may be reshuffling the deck, but for CIA, it’s a tough beat to miss the fall spotlight. The hope is that with Warren Leight now at the controls and more time to fine-tune the mission, the series can emerge stronger—if it ever makes it out of development limbo.

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