The newest series in the hit FBI television universe, CIA, is set to premiere on Monday, February 23, 2026, on CBS. The show will air at 10/9c, following new episodes of the flagship FBI series. This new crime drama brings together two very different federal agents, played by Tom Ellis and Nick Gehlfuss, to tackle high-stakes threats. The path to the premiere has seen significant changes behind the scenes, including a recast of a major role and a new showrunner taking charge.
The Official Premiere and Storyline
CBS has scheduled the series premiere for Monday, February 23, 2026. The show will hold the 10 p.m. timeslot on Monday nights, creating a block of procedural drama with FBI, which airs just before it. This midseason debut is a shift from the original plan for a fall 2025 release.
The show centers on two unlikely partners: a CIA case officer described as a fast-talking, rule-breaking loose cannon, and a seasoned, by-the-book FBI agent. Forced to work together out of the CIA’s New York Station, this “odd couple” must combine their contrasting methods to investigate dangerous threats on U.S. soil. Their differences could become their greatest asset in the field.
Meet the Cast and Characters
The series features a core cast led by two well-known actors from popular television shows.
Tom Ellis, famous for his role as the devilish lead in Lucifer, plays the charismatic and unconventional CIA officer. Nick Gehlfuss, known for playing Dr. Will Halstead on Chicago Med, stars as the straight-laced FBI Agent Bill Goodman. Gehlfuss has highlighted the differences between his new character and his previous one, noting:
โHe is a by the book FBI agent, so, very much different than Will going by his own rules. And he is teamed up with essentially a Will Halsted of the CIA, played by Tom Ellis. And so it is a wonderful collision of the odd couple in a way.โ
They are joined by Natalee Linez, who plays a sharp CIA analyst named Gina Rojas. A significant recent casting change saw Necar Zadegan join the series in the role of the Chief of Station. Zadegan, known for her roles on NCIS: New Orleans and 24, is taking over the part originally assigned to Michael Michele, who departed the project after production had begun.
Also Read:
Production Changes Behind the Scenes
The road to the 2026 premiere has involved several key changes behind the camera. The series started production in September but was briefly put on hold in early November.
The show has seen a change in leadership with Mike Weiss, the current showrunner of the main FBI series, officially taking over as showrunner for CIA. He is the third person to hold the position, following David Hudgins and Warren Leight, who both stepped down from the role. In addition to the showrunner change, executive producer and director Eriq La Salle also exited the series.
Despite these shifts, CBS and Wolf Entertainment have maintained the scheduled winter premiere date. The production is moving forward with its new cast and creative lead.
How to Watch the New Series
Viewers will be able to watch new episodes of CIA as they air on the CBS television network on Monday nights. For those who stream, new episodes are expected to be available the next day on the Paramount+ streaming service.
The series was originally conceived as a planted spinoff titled FBI: CIA that would be introduced through an episode of FBI. However, the network later decided to give it a straight-to-series order, allowing it to develop its own unique identity within the growing FBI television universe.
Also Read: Nice to Not Meet You Episodes 7-8: Everything You Need to Know
Credits: TV Insider
