The upcoming FBI spinoff featuring Tom Ellis has lost its showrunner as production comes to a temporary halt. The leadership change comes ahead of the show’s planned midseason debut. The network has paused production briefly while it reorganizes behind the scenes.
Warren Leight exits CIA as showrunner, production stopped
Warren Leight, known for his work on Law & Order: SVU, has stepped down as showrunner of CBS’s FBI spinoff CIA, according to Variety. Leight took over the position in July from David Hudgins, marking the show’s second showrunner change before its debut. Sources told Variety that FBI showrunner Mike Weiss is in talks to take over while continuing his role on the flagship series.
Production on CIA paused temporarily to accommodate the leadership change. Insiders shared with the outlet that the hiatus will not affect the midseason premiere date, as the delay is expected to be brief. CBS had already shifted the show from a fall release to midseason to allow extra development time.
The crime drama show stars Tom Ellis and Chicago Med alum Nick Gehlfuss as “two unlikely partners — a fast-talking, rule-breaking loose cannon CIA case officer (Ellis), and a by-the-book, seasoned and smart FBI agent (Gehlfuss) who believes in the rule of law.”
According to the official synopsis, when assigned to work together at the CIA’s New York Station, “they must learn to work together to investigate cases and criminals posing threats on U.S. soil, finding that their differences may actually be their strength.”
Michael Michele exited the series after being cast as the station chief, and executive producer and original pilot director Eriq La Salle departed earlier this month. Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, produces CIA and FBI with Wolf Entertainment.
CBS is expected to drop the series during its 2026 midseason slate.
Originally reported by Anubhav Chaudhry on ComingSoon.
