There's no doubt that FBI fans are counting down the days until the series returns and when its new spinoff series CIA premieres. What's even more exciting about when the franchise relaunches later this month on CBS? The series will be taking a page from the One Chicago universe's playbook.
While it's been expected that FBI and CIA would host crossovers between the two shows, Deadline has now confirmed that, like Dick Wolf's successful NBC procedural franchise, his CBS series will have casual crossovers in the upcoming episodes. Characters from each show will be popping up here and there in both titles from time to time to help integrate the new era of the franchise.
On top of FBI star Jeremy Sisto's appearance in the CIA series premiere on Feb. 23, Alana De La Garza and Missy Peregrym will also make appearances in upcoming CIA season 1 episodes as their FBI characters Special Agent in Charge Isobel Castille and FBI Special Agent Maggie Bell. CIA returns the favor with Necar Zadegan dropping by FBI as Deputy Chief of Station Nikki Reynard.
According to showrunner Mike Weiss, the characters crossing over isn't an exact science and will be used on an as-needed basis based on the storylines in play and how the teams can come together to reach a common goal. He also pushed back against the idea that crossovers could be viewed as "gimmicky" since the agencies crossing paths makes sense. As he explained to Deadline, "Ultimately, we’re trying to tell the best story possible. Sometimes, to do that, you’ll see characters overlap, but this isn’t math."
Weiss wouldn't elaborate on how many crossovers would be taking place during the first season of CIA and the current eighth season of FBI, but the future could certainly be full of possibility if the new series proves successful. Additionally, Weiss teased we should never say never to FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International characters returning, though nothing appears to be in the works right now.
Natural crossovers have become the standard for the One Chicago universe. Even though Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, and Chicago PD still have semi-annual three-episode crossover events where they tackle the same story across the entire timeslot, it's become normal for characters to appear in a different series as the story allows. That makes the franchise feel that much more cohesive.
In particular, this season, Chicago Med's Dr. Frost began dating Chicago Fire's Novak, and the storyline revolving around their budding romance has easily glided between both shows. But more often than not, the crossovers aren't even connected by an ongoing storyline like a relationship between two characters originating from different shows. Sometimes we'll see Fire's paramedics or PD's detectives chaperoning patients on Med or vice versa.
Honestly, being able to build big television worlds just enhances the viewing experience for viewers. It's such a step above the usually random crossovers that were the touchstone of the small screen for years and years. Now we have inter-connected franchises with shows like FBI and CIA that stand on their own but benefit from working together in a uniquely special way.
FBI returns Monday, Feb. 23 at 9/8c on CBS, immediately followed by the CIA series premiere at 10/9c.