As part of a prestigious lineup of procedural dramas that dominate CBS, “FBI: International” and “FBI: Most Wanted” branched off from their parent series and maintained strong enough performance to run for four and six seasons, respectively. However, their continuation has now been halted; both shows are set to end during the 2024-2025 season, mainly due to a combination of financial limitations and an overcrowded programming schedule.

This cancellation doesn’t spell the end for the “FBI” franchise on CBS, yet the simultaneous axe of two spin-offs from such a long-standing franchise isn’t typically promising. What led to the end of these dramas? Will the audience be given a proper closure? Could these now-homeless characters find roles within the original “FBI” series? Is there any possibility that the shows might get picked up by another network, or will fans simply have to accept their reduced availability? Here’s why the series have been cut short and whether there’s a possibility for more fan content in the future.

CBS has a limited amount of time to fill on its schedule, and despite the relative success of programs like the “FBI” series, “NCIS: Hawai’i,” and “The Equalizer,” cuts have been necessary. With only 21 hours a week for programming and the majority of them taken by hour-long prime-time shows, there is little room for flexibility. As a result, CBS must be selective, and unless a show is both a major hit and cost-effective, it’s unlikely to be renewed.

Cost is the reason why the phrases “deep cuts” and “belt tightening” have become common around Hollywood lately; even NBC’s storied One Chicago franchise has been forced to cut actors’ episode numbers and trim casts to get renewed. When it comes to the two “FBI” spin-offs, the casts’ minimum guarantees were already reduced for the 2024-2025 season, but further budgetary constraints couldn’t save either show. It also likely didn’t help that “International” in particular went through some cast-related upheaval, with lead Luke Kleintank leaving the program during Season 3 and being replaced by Jesse Lee Soffer.

Another reason why the two “FBI” series probably weren’t picked up? CBS has already greenlit the original “FBI” for several more seasons. The network also has “FBI: CIA” waiting in the wings. CBS likely looked at the amount of space it had left to program and decided that a quartet of “FBI” shows possibly on the schedule was way too many. Between “FBI,” “Blue Bloods,” “Yellowstone,” “NCIS” and now “Fire Country,” the network has a whole bunch of franchises to work with, so something had to give.

Both “FBI” spin-offs still pull decent ratings; Would it be possible for the shows to find success on another platform? They wouldn’t be the first shows to jump networks and find greener pastures. There’s no word as of this writing on whether or not the shows will be shopped around, but producer Dick Wolf has managed to rehome other series to digital platforms after they were canceled by their linear carriers. “Law and Order: Organized Crime” is now a Peacock exclusive after spending time on NBC, for instance. 

Wolf might easily shop the “FBI” shows to Paramount+ or some other branch of the Paramount universe. Neither show is network-owned, and both are produced by Universal Television. If another network fails to pick up the two shows, viewers can rest assured that the writers of both series were given a chance to change the endings of their season-wrapping episodes in a way that will hopefully satisfy devotees.

The “FBI” universe has also been known for shuttling its characters between series, so it’s possible characters from the two spin-offs will make the rounds elsewhere. At least one “FBI: Most Wanted” character already has strong ties to “FBI” itself: Nina Chase (Shantel VanSanten), who has a child with Stuart Scola (John Boyd). So fans shouldn’t worry that they’ll never watch any of these folks ever again. We’ll see if the “FBI” franchise manages to get back on its feet, but the continued existence of “FBI” and “FBI: CIA”  bodes well for the concept’s survival.