The world of Dick Wolf’s successful FBI franchise is getting bigger. The new spin-off series, simply titled CIA, is ready to make its debut on CBS. This show moves away from the typical FBI cases and dives into the secretive world of espionage.
Viewers will see a brand new team of characters who operate in the shadows. The show centers on an unusual partnership between a strict FBI agent and a rule-breaking CIA officer. With the premiere date quickly approaching, here is a complete guide to the cast and characters who bring this high-stakes world to life.
The Lead Partners: An Odd Couple in the Spy Game
The heart of the show is the rocky but promising partnership between its two leads. Their different approaches to the job create the show’s main conflict and its humor.
Tom Ellis as CIA Agent Colin Glass
Tom Ellis, widely known for his role as the charming devil in Lucifer, takes on the role of Colin Glass, a CIA case officer. Unlike the agents viewers see on FBI, Colin operates with very few rules. He is secretive, roguish, and marches to the beat of his own drum.
Ellis explained what drew him to the part. “What really attracted me to Colin was that you never really know what you’re getting from him,” he shared in an interview. “You don’t know whether you’re getting the truth or not, because he predominantly deals in lies. His ability to be who he needs to be in the moment, I thought, was a great opportunity to have a lot of fun” .
Colin’s world is full of gray areas, and his job requires him to be a chameleon. He can be charming one minute and deadly serious the next. The character’s “resting spy face,” as Ellis calls it, might look grumpy, but his skills in deception make him a valuable asset.
Nick Gehlfuss as FBI Special Agent Bill Goodman
Playing the perfect foil to Ellis’s character is Nick Gehlfuss. Known to TV audiences for his long run on Chicago Med, Gehlfuss plays FBI Special Agent Bill Goodman. If Colin is the loose cannon, Bill is the anchor. He is described as a “by-the-book” agent who believes in the rule of law and due process.
Gehlfuss sees his character as a shift from his previous role. “Bill follows the rules. He’s ‘By the book Bill,’” Gehlfuss told Deadline. “I love his moral compass. What I’m really excited about is… because he becomes a fan of Colin and learns to respect him, his moral compass may need to shift a bit” .
Bill is loaned out to a secret joint task force with the CIA. This new environment forces him to adapt to a world where the usual rules don’t always apply. The dynamic between the two leads is the core of the series, and fortunately, the actors’ real-life friendship helps sell their on-screen chemistry .
The Team Holding the Operation Together
While Colin and Bill are in the field, they rely on a team of strong women who manage the intelligence and the missions from their base in New York.
Necar Zadegan as Deputy Chief of Station Nikki Reynard
Necar Zadegan plays Nikki Reynard, the Deputy Chief of Station. She is Colin and Bill’s boss. Nikki is smart, powerful, and communicative, but she is also adjusting to life behind a desk. She used to work in the field alongside Colin, and she misses the action.
Showrunner Mike Weiss explained her struggle. “Her struggle Season 1 is her desire to still be out in the field… you’re now actually a bigger target for someone to take down now that you’re the Deputy Chief of Station” .
Nikki has a history with Colin, and she trusts him with her life. It is because of this trust and her concern for him that she brings Bill onto the team. She sees that Colin needs a partner and a friend to help him deal with past traumas . Viewers will also learn about her personal life, including her multiple ex-husbands, as the season progresses.
Natalee Linez as CIA Analyst Gina Gosian
Playing the youngest member of the core team is Natalee Linez. Her character, Gina Gosian, is a bright and ambitious CIA analyst. Her world is the SCIF (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility), the secure office where she gathers and analyzes intel for the team.
“Gina is very ambitious, very smart,” Linez said. “She definitely has her eye on working her way up the ranks… She likes to anticipate the needs of Colin, of Nikki, of Bill” .
While she is stuck in the office for now, Gina dreams of getting out into the field. She believes she has the skills to read people and go undercover. She looks up to Nikki as a mentor, and the show will explore that relationship. Gina is also the one who keeps the team grounded, often pointing out the logistical problems with their risky plans .
Familiar Faces from the ‘FBI’ Universe
The CIA series does not exist in a bubble. It is firmly connected to the main FBI show. The creative team has planned several crossovers to help launch the new series and blend the two worlds.
Jeremy Sisto will reprise his role as FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jubal Valentine in the premiere episode of CIA. Jubal is a fan favorite, and his appearance serves as a welcome for both the new characters and the audience. Mike Weiss noted that it was organic to the story, as Nikki Reynard needs a top-flight FBI agent for her task force and turns to Jubal for a recommendation .
But the crossovers do not stop there. It has been confirmed that Alana De La Garza (Special Agent in Charge Isobel Castille) and Missy Peregrym (FBI Special Agent Maggie Bell) will also appear on CIA later in the season. In return, Necar Zadegan’s character, Nikki Reynard, will cross over to the mothership series, FBI . This two-way street allows the universe to feel more connected and real.
“Fans get to see their favorite characters flex their muscles in cases and in situations that can differ from their work in their ordinary worlds,” showrunner Mike Weiss explained. “And we get to expand the universe of BOTH shows” .
When and Where to Watch
Mark your calendars. CIA premieres on Monday, February 23, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CBS . The show will air right after a new episode of the mothership series, FBI, which returns from its midseason hiatus the same night at 9 p.m. ET .
For those who prefer to stream, new episodes will be available to watch on Paramount+ the day after they air on CBS .
The road to the screen was not without its bumps. The show faced some behind-the-scenes changes, including a switch in showrunners and the departure of a cast member during early production. However, the series moved forward with the current team, and with Mike Weiss (showrunner of FBI) at the helm, it promises to deliver the same procedural intensity with a fresh, spy-flavored twist .
Also Read: David Lyons Movies and TV Shows: 5 Essential Roles From ‘Revolution’ to ‘The Night Agent’
For more updates on your favorite TV shows and casting news, keep checking back with VvipTimes for the latest stories from the entertainment world.
