The dreaded deep cuts on CBS‘ series slate are starting with two high-profile cancellations. The network is not renewing the FBI spinoffs FBI: Most Wanted, which is ending after six seasons, and FBI: International, canceled after four seasons. Both Wolf Entertainment/Universal television series are headlined by big stars, Dylan McDermott (Most Wanted) and Jesse Lee Soffer (International), who moved to the offshoots from other Dick Wolf shows, Law & Order: Organized Crime and Chicago P.D., respectively.
The cancellations leave the highly rated mothership FBI, now in its seventh season on CBS and Year 1 of a three-year pickup, and potential new offshoot FBI: CIA, now in development. The axing of Most Wanted and International boosts FBI: CIA’s chances. A planted spinoff set to air as an episode of the mothership series, FBI: CIA is currently casting with several actors in negotiations. Based on the talent that gets attached, I hear the project may get a straight-to-series order.
It is unclear whether Universal TV and Wolf Entertainment will shop the two FBI spinoffs, which still deliver solid linear viewership, to other platforms. Last year, they were able to successfully move a Law & Order spinoff, Organized Crime, from NBC to Peacock.
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This marks a big reversal of fortune for FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International which only three years ago commanded two-season renewals (alongside flagship FBI.)
The FBI franchise comes from an outside supplier, Universal Television. CBS has had a couple of difficult renewal negotiations with the NBCUniversal studio over the past couple of years, with financials believed to have played a role in today’s cancellations. (Renewal talks between the two sides for a sixth and potentially final season of Equalizer continue.)
In a cost-cutting move, last year both FBI and FBI: Most Wanted reduced the main cast’s minimum guarantees. (International was not impacted because it has a smaller regular cast, half of which are international actors.)
There is also the issue of shelf space. With a slew of current series renewed over the past couple of months, including NCIS, NCIS: Origins, NCIS: Sydney; Tracker, Fire Country Elsbeth and Matlock, CBS had to cancel existing dramas to make room for new ones.
CBS already has two drama slots reserved on next season’s schedule for new series Sheriff Country, a spinoff from Fire Country, and Boston Blue, an extension of the Blue Bloods universe.
In addition to FBI: CIA, the network also has a potential Equalizer spinoff starring Titus Welliver in the works and a high-profile drama pilot Einstein starring Criminal Minds alum Matthew Gray Gubler.
With FBI: Most Wanted canceled, it is unclear whether Shantel VanSanten, who had recently moved from FBI to the spinoff, would move back. Her character has a baby with Scola from the mothership series.
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