5 Shocking Twists: Why FBI: International And FBI: Most Wanted Are Ending And What’s Next For The FBI Universe
The landscape of the Dick Wolf-produced "FBI Universe" is dramatically shifting this year, marking the end of an era for two fan-favorite series. As of late 2025, both FBI: International and FBI: Most Wanted have been officially canceled by CBS, a move that has sent shockwaves through the procedural drama community. This unexpected decision means the current seasons—Season 4 for the Budapest-based Fly Team and Season 6 for the Fugitive Task Force—will serve as their final chapters, leading into series finales set for the spring of 2025. The focus now turns to how these two beloved teams will wrap up their storylines and, more importantly, what new entity will step in to maintain the seamless continuity of the shared universe.
The cancellation is not a sign of the franchise's weakness, but rather a calculated pivot, as CBS immediately ordered a new spin-off to fill the void. This dramatic shift is the biggest shake-up since FBI: International first launched, fundamentally altering the Tuesday night lineup. The following is a detailed breakdown of the five biggest twists surrounding the end of the two series and the future of the interconnected world of federal law enforcement.
The Unexpected End: Series Finale Details for the Fly Team and the Fugitive Task Force
The biggest and most recent update for fans is the confirmation that both shows are concluding their runs in the 2024-2025 television season. This decision allows the creative teams a rare chance to craft satisfying, definitive series finales rather than abrupt cliffhangers. The final episodes are set to air in May 2025, promising emotional farewells and crucial plot resolutions for the main characters.
1. FBI: International’s Final Mission and Character Resolution
The fourth season of FBI: International has been building toward a significant conclusion for the Fly Team, which operates out of Budapest, hunting down threats to American interests across Europe. The series finale, which is also the Season 4 finale, is expected to tie up several long-running personal and professional threads.
The final episodes will likely focus on the future of the team's leadership and its members. Early spoilers suggest that Agents Vo and Raines may receive crucial promotion decisions, potentially setting them up for new roles within the larger FBI structure. Furthermore, the fate of Agent Scott Forrester's team, and how they handle one last, high-stakes international fugitive case, will determine the legacy of the Fly Team. A key episode in the final run, for example, saw Agent Mitchell making difficult choices regarding a protected witness, highlighting the moral complexities of their work abroad.
2. FBI: Most Wanted’s Final Hunt and Remy Scott’s Future
The Fugitive Task Force, led by Supervisory Special Agent Remy Scott (Dylan McDermott), is also preparing for its final hunt in Season 6. The premise of the show—tracking down the nation's most dangerous criminals on the FBI's Most Wanted list—provides a natural framework for a high-impact series finale.
The final season has already featured significant personal storylines, including Special Agent Nina Chase's arc, which saw her called to Dallas by her younger sister in a crucial episode. The series finale is anticipated to offer a satisfying resolution for Remy Scott’s character, whose past trauma and unique leadership style have defined the show since he took over. Fans are eager to see how the team, including Special Agents Sheryll Barnes and Hana Gibson, navigate their final, complex case and what their futures hold in the wake of the Fugitive Task Force being dissolved or restructured.
The New Era: Introducing the CIA Spin-Off and Tom Ellis
The most compelling reason for the dual cancellation is not a ratings failure—both shows maintained solid viewership—but a strategic decision by CBS and Dick Wolf to refresh and expand the "FBI Universe" with a different type of agency. The new series, tentatively titled CIA, is already generating massive buzz and is set to debut in the 2025-2026 TV season.
3. Tom Ellis Leads the New FBI-CIA Dynamic
The new spin-off, CIA, will star Tom Ellis, best known for his lead role in Lucifer. His casting is a major coup for the franchise, bringing a high-profile star to the new series.
The premise of CIA is a fascinating departure from the standard FBI procedural. The show will center on an "odd couple" dynamic, pairing a by-the-book FBI Special Agent with a seasoned CIA agent. This partnership will explore the often-tense and complicated relationship between the two agencies, which operate under different mandates—domestic law enforcement versus international intelligence. The new series promises to explore global threats from a different perspective, potentially acting as a spiritual successor to FBI: International but with a distinct intelligence focus. This shift suggests a more geopolitical and espionage-driven narrative, injecting fresh life into the shared universe.
The Legacy: Connecting Fictional Cases to Real-Life FBI History
A core element of the "FBI Universe" is its grounding in real-world law enforcement and the notorious history of the Bureau. Both FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International draw heavily on the prestige and public awareness of the FBI's mission, making the fictional cases feel urgent and authentic.
4. The Real-World Impact of the Most Wanted List
The premise of FBI: Most Wanted is directly inspired by the Bureau's "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list, which was first established in 1950. The list's creation was a public relations effort to capture high-profile criminals, and the first person ever named to the list was Thomas James Holden.
The show's focus on the Fugitive Task Force chasing modern-day equivalents of infamous criminals connects it to the Bureau's history of pursuing figures like John Dillinger, Al Capone, and the Unabomber. This historical context adds significant topical authority to the series, reminding viewers that the stakes are real. Even the concept of a "most wanted" criminal has evolved from bank robbers to sophisticated cybercriminals like Kevin Mitnick, a hacker who once topped the FBI's wanted list.
5. The Future of the Shared Universe and Crossovers
While the major three-show crossovers—involving the original FBI, Most Wanted, and International—have been massive events, the cancellation of the two spin-offs means the structure of the "FBI Universe" will change. Future crossovers will now primarily be between the flagship series, FBI, and the new CIA spin-off.
The door remains open for characters from the canceled shows to make guest appearances in the future, especially within the new CIA series. The interconnected nature of the Dick Wolf universe, which includes the Chicago and Law & Order franchises, is built on these character returns and cameos. Fans can hold out hope that Agents Scott Forrester or Remy Scott might eventually cross paths with the new CIA team, ensuring their legacy lives on even after their series finales air in May 2025. This transition is not a complete ending, but an evolution—a new chapter where the FBI's jurisdiction expands into the complex world of international espionage and intelligence gathering.
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