Dick Wolf's FBI empire just got its most dangerous expansion yet—and it's bringing the devil himself into the fold. The groundbreaking new spinoff CIA isn't just another procedural; it's a high-stakes game-changer that's about to redefine television espionage.
At its core: Lucifer superstar Tom Ellis as Colin Glass, a British CIA operative so unconventional he doesn't even carry a gun. "His only weapon is his mind," Ellis revealed in an exclusive bombshell interview. Paired with rigid FBI Agent Bill Goodman (Nick Gehlfuss), this mismatched duo will navigate New York's darkest corners in a secret task force that operates where laws blur and morality gets murky.
Premiering February 23, CIA arrives as CBS strategically restructures the FBI franchise—but insiders confirm this isn't a replacement. It's an escalation. "We're building something explosive," showrunner Mike Weiss told TV Insider. "The crossover potential between FBI and CIA will create television events unlike anything we've done before."
The crossover firepower is already confirmed: Jeremy Sisto's Jubal Valentine leads the charge in the premiere, with Alana De La Garza and Missy Peregrym from the original FBI series joining the shadow war. This isn't just guest appearances—it's a full-scale integration of Dick Wolf's New York universe.
Tom Ellis transforms from the devil to a CIA operative in 'CIA'. Zach Dilgard/CBS
Ellis brings six seasons of devilish charm from Lucifer to his most complex role yet. "Colin operates in grays," Ellis explained. "He's brilliant, unpredictable, and constantly testing boundaries—exactly what this universe needed."
Opposite him stands Gehlfuss's Bill Goodman, an FBI veteran torn from his comfort zone. "Bill didn't want this assignment," Gehlfuss confessed. "He's a by-the-book agent suddenly thrown into a world where the book doesn't exist. The tension between them creates magic."
Nick Gehlfuss as the conflicted FBI agent Bill Goodman. Mark Schafer/CBS
What makes CIA truly revolutionary? The show operates in legal limbo—Colin's British citizenship means he can't carry firearms on U.S. soil, forcing him to rely purely on intelligence and manipulation. Meanwhile, Bill represents American law enforcement struggling to adapt to covert operations where rules are suggestions rather than mandates.
"They complete each other in ways that terrify their enemies," Ellis revealed. "Colin sees patterns Bill misses, while Bill provides the moral compass Colin lacks. Together, they're unstoppable."
With the FBI universe now spanning eight seasons of the original series plus this bold new direction, CIA represents Dick Wolf's most ambitious play yet. It's not just a spinoff—it's a declaration that television espionage will never be the same.
Mark your calendars: February 23 is when the shadows come alive, and the FBI universe gets its most dangerous ally yet.
