Monday night television just got a jolt of adrenaline as CBS rolled out the red carpet for CIA, the much-anticipated spinoff of the popular FBI franchise. Premiering on February 23, 2026, at 10 PM ET/PT and streaming on Paramount+, the new crime procedural promises to shake up the formula with high-stakes espionage, a star-studded cast, and a dynamic that’s anything but predictable. But does CIA live up to the hype? Judging by the early buzz, it just might be the franchise’s next flagship series.
At the heart of CIA is an odd-couple pairing that’s already winning fans over. Tom Ellis, best known for his devilishly charming turn as Lucifer, steps into the shoes of Hart Hoxton, a CIA operative who doesn’t just bend the rules—he practically rewrites them. As described by Paramount+, Hoxton is a seasoned case officer who “thrives in morally gray situations, believing results matter far more than protocol.” Ellis, a Welsh actor who brings an authentic American edge to Hoxton, underwent rigorous chemistry reads during casting, ensuring his dynamic with the show’s co-lead would be electric.
That co-lead is Nick Gehlfuss, a familiar face from Chicago Med, who brings gravitas and discipline as FBI Special Agent Bill Goodman. Goodman is the antithesis of Hoxton: analytical, precise, and unwavering in his commitment to procedure. The tension between these two—one a loose cannon, the other a stickler for the rules—fuels the show’s emotional and narrative core. According to Entertainment Weekly, Gehlfuss joined the project in September 2025 after months of casting deliberation, and his chemistry with Ellis was apparent from the very first table read.
The premise is simple but potent: Hoxton and Goodman, forced to collaborate out of the CIA’s New York Station, must learn to work together as they investigate domestic threats and high-stakes crimes on U.S. soil. As the official series description puts it, “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.”
But the show’s appeal doesn’t end with its two leads. Necar Zadegan, a seasoned procedural veteran from NCIS: New Orleans and Mayor of Kingstown, takes on the role of CIA Deputy Chief Nikki Reynard. Zadegan’s presence brings a new layer of strength and complexity to the series. In an interview with Fangirlish, she reflected on why she was drawn to the project: “I thought there were a lot of opportunities—for the sake of the show, in that it shoots in New York, and what that can give to the show, and that it was CIA, and there was that international kind of vibe about it, and where we could take the stories.”
Filming in New York City isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a character in its own right. Zadegan noted, “New York is famously one of the greatest cities in the world. Every location is iconic. Not only that, but the wealth of wonderful actors we have, and we get to choose from in New York, that are just here.” The city’s unique energy and proximity to the rest of the world give the show an international flavor, fitting for a series that aims to blend classic American storytelling with global intrigue.
Supporting cast members Natalee Linez (as CIA Analyst Gina Rojas) and Jeremy Sisto (reprising his role as FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jubal Valentine) round out the intelligence team, ensuring that franchise fans will find familiar faces alongside the new ones. According to Wikipedia and Paramount+, the show was created by Dick Wolf and David Hudgins, produced by Wolf Entertainment, CBS Studios, and Universal Television—an all-star production team that knows a thing or two about building procedural juggernauts.
The road to premiere night, however, was anything but smooth. Originally planned as a backdoor pilot on FBI in spring, the approach was scrapped in March 2025. CBS instead opted for a straight-to-series order in April 2025. Production kicked off in September 2025 in New York, but a series of leadership changes—including the departure of director Eriq La Salle and original showrunner Warren Leight—forced a pause. Mike Weiss, the showrunner of the original FBI, stepped in to steady the ship. This restructuring, though disruptive, ultimately ensured the pilot met the franchise’s high standards.
The premiere episode, aptly titled “Directed Energy,” wastes no time plunging viewers into the action. Hoxton and Goodman are tasked with investigating a stolen top-secret weapon taken in broad daylight from a U.S. defense contractor. The case forces the mismatched partners to confront their operational differences head-on—Hoxton’s risk-taking versus Goodman’s insistence on accountability. New episodes will air weekly on Mondays, both on CBS and Paramount+, keeping fans hooked through the season finale.
Early critical reception has been encouraging. Rotten Tomatoes reports an 80% approval rating from early reviews, while Metacritic indicates mixed but generally positive reactions, particularly praising the chemistry between Ellis and Gehlfuss. According to Entertainment Weekly and Paramount+, the show’s blend of intricate intelligence operations and character-driven drama is resonating with audiences.
One of the most refreshing aspects of CIA is its commitment to strong female leadership. Zadegan’s character, Nikki Reynard, isn’t just a background figure—she’s a driving force within the show’s universe. As Zadegan told Fangirlish, “It’s really so cool for me, because I really, really love working with women. I love the company of women, and I prefer it all the time. And I… and I love to watch actresses. I prefer projects that are, that have actresses in them. I get bored sometimes if there’s not a woman in the project.” Her character’s journey—from fieldwork to leadership and back again—adds depth and relatability, as she grapples with “the idea of, ‘did I make the right decision, is this really the life for me’.”
The show’s attention to detail extends even to its wardrobe, with Zadegan sharing a bit of on-set humor: “Often in a costume fitting or something, we’ll put something on, like a beautiful, sexy overcoat that’s just this wonderful material, and immediately the costume designers will say, ‘that’s too New York’, it’s too chic. But we are in New York, so we can wear all the clothes. Which is great.”
As for the action, Zadegan assures fans that her “cardio game is strong,” though she admits, “I get nervous about slipping on the ice in New York. I actually… I think about it every day when I’m walking, taking careful steps. I do feel like there’s something super stealth about the CIA. Super, like, you know, walking quiet like a cat. You don’t know they’re there.”
With its bold casting, authentic New York flavor, and a creative team that’s weathered more than a few storms, CIA arrives on the scene with a point to prove. Whether it becomes a staple of Monday night TV remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: this is a show that’s not afraid to take risks—and that alone makes it worth tuning in.