CBS Quietly Pulled a Major Show From Its Fall Lineup

CBS is making moves behind the scenes, and one of its most talked-about new shows is no longer part of the fall lineup. The highly anticipated FBI spinoff CIA, led by Lucifer star Tom Ellis, has been quietly shifted to midseason 2026.

The decision follows a shakeup at the top, according to Deadline. 

Warren Leight, known for his run on Law & Order: SVU, has stepped in as the new showrunner, replacing David Hudgins, who previously oversaw FBI: Most Wanted. With Leight’s arrival, CBS appears to be resetting the series creatively before rolling it out to viewers.

Originally slated to debut this fall after new episodes of FBI on Monday nights, CIA was set to follow an unlikely partnership between Ellis’s maverick CIA agent and a by-the-book FBI agent. That premise may now be subject to change as the new leadership gets to work.

Complicating the rollout further, CIA still hasn’t locked in its cast. 

Aside from Ellis, no other actors are attached to the project. A planned backdoor pilot intended to air during the most recent season of FBI was scrapped when casting delays slowed down production.

Despite the push, casting is expected to ramp up soon, with CBS eyeing a fall start for production. The hope is that the extra time and leadership change will give the series a stronger foundation before it premieres.

To fill the gap, CBS is bringing back Watson earlier than planned. The Morris Chestnut-led medical drama will now return for season 2 this fall, premiering Oct. 13 in the same Monday night slot originally held for CIA.

For FBI fans, the absence of a second series this fall may feel like a letdown. But with Tom Ellis still on board and a new showrunner with a strong procedural pedigree, CIA may benefit from the delay and show up stronger when it finally premieres in 2026.

Related: HBO Is Quietly Killing Off Some of Its Most Beloved Channels