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- 🔥 Quick Facts
- Tom Ellis Brings Reckless Charm to CIA Agent Hart Hoxton
- Nick Gehlfuss Delivers Disciplined FBI Perspective as Bill Goodman
- An Odd-Couple Dynamic Fuels the FBI Spinoff Drama
- Strategic Production Challenges Led to Series Reshaping and Production Pauses
- What Can Viewers Expect from the First Episode and Beyond
CIA just debuted on CBS tonight with a star-studded cast and high-stakes spy drama. The brand-new FBI spinoff features Tom Ellis and Nick Gehlfuss in an unconventional partnership. What makes this premiere event unmissable for drama fans everywhere.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Network and Date: Premiered on CBS on Monday, February 23, 2026 at 10 PM ET/PT
- Lead Cast: Tom Ellis as CIA Agent Hart Hoxton and Nick Gehlfuss as FBI Agent Bill Goodman
- Creator: Produced by legendary showrunner Dick Wolf with David Hudgins
- Streaming: Available on CBS and Paramount+ for live and on-demand viewing
Tom Ellis Brings Reckless Charm to CIA Agent Hart Hoxton
Tom Ellis, best known for his breakout role as Lucifer, plays the show’s central character, Hart Hoxton. Hoxton is a seasoned CIA operative who thrives in morally gray situations, believing results matter far more than protocol. Ellis brings his signature charisma and edge to the rule-bending field officer. The Welsh actor brings authenticity to an American character that audiences will find compelling. His Hoxton clashes brilliantly with Gehlfuss’s by-the-book partner in every scene.
According to the official premise, Hoxton approaches intelligence work with calculated risks and unconventional methods. Ellis confirmed his character would be American and underwent chemistry reads during the casting process. This pairing between Ellis and Gehlfuss forms the emotional and dramatic core of the entire series.
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Nick Gehlfuss Delivers Disciplined FBI Perspective as Bill Goodman
Nick Gehlfuss, renowned for his role as Dr. Will Halstead on NBC’s Chicago Med, brings structured authority from the FBI side. Goodman represents analytical precision, accountability, and by-the-book procedures. His partnership with Hoxton creates the show’s central tension: a loose cannon CIA officer paired with a principled FBI special agent who must somehow collaborate. Gehlfuss joined the project in September 2025 after months of casting deliberation.
This unlikely duo must work together investigating domestic terrorism threats in New York City. Gehlfuss’s earlier television credits include appearances in Shameless, demonstrating his versatility in complex character work. Their chemistry immediately resonated during production.
| Detail | Information |
| Network | CBS |
| Premiere Date | Monday, February 23, 2026 |
| Time Slot | 10 PM ET/PT |
| Streaming Platform | Paramount+ |
An Odd-Couple Dynamic Fuels the FBI Spinoff Drama
The FBI franchise expansion takes an intriguing direction with CIA. Rather than mirroring the procedural formula of the original FBI, showrunner Mike Weiss emphasizes the relationship tension between agencies with fundamentally different operational cultures. Hoxton operates in shadows and moral ambiguity, while Goodman demands accountability and transparency. This fundamental conflict drives every episode.
Supporting cast members Natalee Linez as CIA Analyst Gina Rojas and Necar Zadegan as CIA Deputy Chief Nikki Reynard round out the intelligence team. Jeremy Sisto reprises his FBI role as Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jubal Valentine, providing continuity for longtime franchise fans. The show was created by Dick Wolf and David Hudgins, with production by Wolf Entertainment, CBS Studios, and Universal Television.
“At its core, CIA follows an agency case officer and an FBI special agent forced into collaboration when national security is at risk, blending the tension and secrecy of global intelligence operations with case-of-the-week investigations.”
— According to Paramount+, Official Series Description
Strategic Production Challenges Led to Series Reshaping and Production Pauses
The journey to premiere night involved significant creative shifts. CIA was originally planned as a backdoor pilot on the original FBI series in spring, but this approach was abandoned in March 2025. Instead, CBS greenlighted a straight-to-series order in April 2025. Production began in September 2025 in New York City but was ultimately paused when key creative leadership exited.
Eriq La Salle departed as director in November 2025, followed by original showrunner Warren Leight. Production was halted to accommodate these changes. Mike Weiss, the current showrunner of the original FBI, took over the role. This restructuring ensured the pilot episode met the franchise’s quality standards before its February 23 premiere.
What Can Viewers Expect from the First Episode and Beyond
The premiere episode, titled “Directed Energy,” kicks off with Hart Hoxton and Bill Goodman investigating a stolen top-secret weapon taken in broad daylight from a U.S. defense contractor. The high-stakes investigation forces these partners to immediately confront their operational differences. New episodes air weekly on Mondays through the season finale on Paramount+ and CBS.
Critical reception so far has been encouraging. Rotten Tomatoes shows an 80% approval rating from early reviews, while Metacritic indicates mixed reactions with some praising the chemistry between Ellis and Gehlfuss. The show promises intricate intelligence operations coupled with compelling character dynamics. Will this CIA spinoff become the franchise’s next flagship drama series?
Sources
- Wikipedia – Comprehensive series details and production timeline
- Paramount+ – Official cast descriptions and program information
- Entertainment Weekly – Cast guides and crossover character details
