FBI: Most Wanted and International get disappointing update after cancelation

We have been hopeful. It was a pretty devastating blow to lose both FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International at the same time. We suspected one of these shows were on the bubble, since CBS had yet to renew them, but we did not anticipate the network pulling the plug on both and then launching new FBI spinoffs in their place.

Still, there were flickers of hope. We had seen shows like SWAT come back from the dead on CBS, and twice at that. We'd also seen shows like 9-1-1: Lone Star get the boot from one network, only to be picked up by another. Plus, FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International were Wolf Entertainment titles that were connected to franchises on other networks. Maybe NBC can step in and keep one or both shows going?

Neither show is being shopped to networks

117054_D_4419bws — "Execute" - When a hacker triggers a car crash that kills a family of three, the team races to hunt him down as his ransomware demands escalate and his chilling final target becomes apparent, on FBI: MOST WANTED, Tuesday, Nov. 24 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Pictured (L-R) Julian McMahon as Supervisory Special Agent Jess LaCroix, Keisha Castle-Hughes as Special Agent Hana Gibson, Nathaniel Arcand as Special Agent Clinton Skye, Kellan Lutz as Special Agent Kenny Crosby

A fan wrote in to TV Line with this question, anticipating an exciting update or a buzzworthy note regarding attempts made by Wolf Entertainment. Sadly, the outlet had no such news. Apparently there have been no efforts made to prolong the lives of Most Wanted and/or International.

"Sorry to say, neither of the cancelled CBS spinoffs are being shopped around at this time," the outlet asserted. It's disappointing, obviously, but it does make some sense given the suspected reasons for their respective cancelations.

It was theorized by some insiders that FBI: International was proving to be costly given the locations in which it was being shot, compared to the stateside sets of the flagship show. Shows get far more expensive as they wear on, and CBS obviously felt it would be a better use of time to start anew with another FBI spinoff.

Both shows drew lower ratings than FBI

“They Paid More” – When a bus full of American volunteers is hijacked in a dangerous section of Morocco, the Fly Team works to locate the missing aid workers and the people who kidnapped them, on FBI: INTERNATIONAL, Tuesday, Dec. 3 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs). Pictured (L-R): Jesse Lee Soffer as

Then there's the anticipation of rights drama. FBI is produced by Universal Television, and Slash Film theorized that CBS may have axed FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International early in an effort to avoid costly and lengthy renewal negotiations with Universal. Then, of course, there's the simple yet very notable metric of ratings.

Most Wanted and International were not flops by any means. Both shows managed to pull in a very consistent 8.5 and 8.4 million viewers per episode, respectively, at the top of the year. The flagship FBI show, however, was pulling in 10.5 million viewers per episode. There's a notable difference, and the network's hopes for the tentatively titled FBI: CIA appear to be high. It would be a lot for another network to take on, which may very well be why they aren't being shopped.