How FBI’s Subsequent Spinoff Is So Totally different From The Franchise’s Different Exhibits Defined By Showrunner

FBI‘s upcoming spinoff goes to be a game-changer for the franchise.

Showrunner Mike Weiss explains how CIA can be a really totally different expertise from different exhibits within the crime procedural universe. CIA‘s story follows strict, ruler-following FBI Particular Agent Invoice Goodman (Nick Gehlfuss), who turns into a part of a joint job drive with the CIA. He is partnered with Agent Colin Glass (Tom Ellis), a secret-keeping rule breaker, as they sort out weekly circumstances.

In an interview with ScreenRant‘s Brandon Zachary for CIA, Weiss, in talking about potential crossovers with FBI, defined what makes the spinoff stand out from its predecessors. The showrunner defined how, whereas FBI‘s circumstances are “sanitized by daylight,” the circumstances in CIA are secretive, that means the actions they take won’t ever have a public highlight shone on them:

ScreenRant: What are the probabilities for a crossover between CIA and FBI?

Mike Weiss: There’s form of a magic door that exists that Invoice Goodman is invited to undergo into the CIA. He is invited to go from a black and white world [of FBI] right into a world the place every little thing is grey, and every little thing is within the shadows. I believe a part of the enjoyable is that we’re hoping for lots of crossover. We’re hoping to make it clear that Invoice began his profession at 26 Fed, and he is aware of the entire characters on FBI. These are folks that he is collaborated with on circumstances over the past couple of years when he was a particular agent. There’s this magic door, and he is in a position to undergo into the CIA, however not everybody from FBI will get to undergo that door.

You need to be invited in, whereas on CIA, these characters can journey by way of each time they need. I am hoping that folks get the texture for the way that works because the present evolves… FBI is a present that has to happen in broad daylight. Every part that the FBI does, it must be sanitized by daylight, whereas there are issues that occur on CIA that nobody’s going to seek out out about. I believe it is a part of the enjoyable. It is one thing that Invoice goes to need to wrap his head round. You would possibly save the day on CIA, however there’s by no means going to be a press convention, as a result of nobody may even know that we had been right here. That is the important thing distinction between the 2 exhibits.

Weiss’ assertion additionally revealed plans for potential crossovers, as Invoice will come into the collection having foreknowledge of the characters in FBI. Nevertheless, the core focus is how CIA differentiates from different exhibits. Although the FBI’s circumstances have been public, this new job drive would require every little thing that transpires to stay underneath the radar.

Primarily based on what Weiss says, the extent of secrecy is in contrast to something the franchise has tackled earlier than. The joint job drive will probably be up towards threats that should not be made public, since they may trigger some form of disturbance. However, it additionally feels like Invoice, specifically, should get used to this new surroundings of secrecy essentially the most.

CIA comes out whereas FBI season 8 is presently airing. CBS has renewed the core collection by way of season 9, and is the one present presently airing within the franchise. Earlier spinoffs FBI: Most Wished and FBI: Worldwide had been canceled in 2025, with the upcoming collection concerning the joint job drive performing as the one ongoing companion present.

Fortunately, it looks as if the variations between each collection will make them stand out from each other within the course of. Whereas CIA is a by-product, the strategy Weiss mentions alerts it should support in making it really feel like its personal present. Whereas the bigger procedural universe is destined to be acknowledged sooner or later, it will not preserve the present from standing by itself.

With CIA simply weeks away from its premiere on CBS, it will not be lengthy till the extent of that distinction turns into apparent. It would probably support within the dynamic between Invoice and Colin as properly, since their clashing ideologies might want to meet some type of center floor in the event that they need to work collectively whereas conserving the duty drive’s mission aligned.

CIA premieres Monday, February 23 at 10 p.m. ET on CBS.