The Real Reason CBS Canceled FBI: International And Most Wanted

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The hit CBS procedurals “FBI: International” and “FBI: Most Wanted,” which spun off from their original series, have been running for four and six seasons respectively. However, they will be ending in the 2024-2025 season due to a mix of financial limitations and an overly busy schedule. In simpler terms, these shows are being canceled.

As a devoted fan, it’s never easy to accept the news when two spin-offs from a beloved franchise like “FBI” on CBS are cancelled simultaneously. It’s hard not to wonder about the reasons behind these dramas’ ends and whether we, as fans, will get a fitting resolution for both shows. Could any of the characters who have now been displaced find their way back into the fold of “FBI”?

There’s an underlying question here: is there any chance that either series could find a new home on another network, or are we destined to witness a lessened presence of this cherished property? Let me delve deeper and uncover why these shows have been terminated and if there’s a glimmer of hope for more stories down the line.

Why were FBI: International and FBI: Most Wanted canceled?

On CBS, there’s limited space available on their schedule, even for successful shows like “FBI”, “NCIS: Hawai’i” and “The Equalizer” have been canceled due to this constraint. With just 21 hours a week to fill, hour-long prime-time programs take up most of the time, leaving minimal flexibility. As a result, CBS needs to be very selective in choosing new shows. Unless a series is incredibly popular and also cost-effective, it’s unlikely to be picked up by them.

The high cost of production is causing phrases like “significant reductions” and “financial austerity” to be frequently used in Hollywood nowadays; even renowned franchises like NBC’s One Chicago are being forced to decrease the number of episodes for actors and trim their casts to secure renewal. Regarding the two spin-offs of the FBI series, the actors’ minimum guarantees were already reduced for the 2024-2025 season, but additional budget cuts weren’t sufficient to save either show. The fact that International experienced some instability in its cast, with lead Luke Kleintank departing during Season 3 and being replaced by Jesse Lee Soffer, probably didn’t help matters either.

CIA” ready to go. With shows like “Blue Bloods,” “Yellowstone,” “NCIS,” and now “Fire Country,” CBS already has several popular franchises in their lineup. In this situation, it seems that having four “FBI” series on the schedule might be too much, so they had to make a choice.

Will FBI: International and FBI: Most Wanted move?

The two TV shows based on the FBI are still drawing good viewership numbers; could it be feasible for these series to prosper on different platforms? Historically, some shows have switched networks and flourished in new environments. As of now, there’s no information available regarding whether or not these shows will be offered to other networks, but producer Dick Wolf has previously moved other series to digital platforms following their cancellations by traditional broadcasters. For example, “Law and Order: Organized Crime” is now exclusive to Peacock after airing on NBC initially.

As a gamer, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Wolf could potentially bring the “FBI” shows over to Paramount+ or another part of the Paramount family. Neither series is owned by a network, and they’re both produced by Universal Television. If no other network snags these shows, fans can take comfort in knowing that the writers had the opportunity to rewrite the endings of their season finales, aiming to please dedicated viewers.

In the world of FBI shows, it’s common for characters to move between series, so don’t be surprised if you see characters from both spin-offs appearing in other places. Interestingly, one character from FBI: Most Wanted already has a strong connection to the original FBI show – Nina Chase, played by Shantel VanSanten, who shares a child with Stuart Scola, portrayed by John Boyd. This means that fans won’t have to say goodbye to these characters forever. As long as FBI and FBI: CIA continue to exist, there’s hope for the longevity of this concept.

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2025-05-17 17:30