Warren Leight has stepped down as showrunner of the upcoming CBS series CIA, an FBI spinoff starring Tom Ellis and Nick Gehlfuss. Production is pausing to accommodate the leadership change, with FBI showrunner Mike Weiss in talks to take over. The series remains on track for a midseason premiere despite recent behind-the-scenes exits.
Showrunner Transition
Warren Leight, a veteran producer known for his work on Law & Order: SVU, has exited as showrunner of CIA just months after taking the role in July 2025. He replaced David Hudgins, who was the original showrunner when the series was ordered straight-to-series by CBS in April 2025. The project, originally eyed for a fall 2025 debut, was shifted to midseason following the change. Mike Weiss, current showrunner of the mothership FBI, is in talks to step in as the third showrunner before the series airs, according to sources cited by Variety and Deadline.
Production Pause and Recent Exits
Production on CIA began in September 2025 but is now pausing to facilitate the showrunner transition and ongoing recasting. The series has faced multiple high-profile departures recently. Michael Michele, who was cast as the Chief of Station at CIA's New York office, left earlier this month, with her role now being recast. Eriq La Salle, an executive producer and director of the original pilot, also departed shortly after. All three—Leight, Michele, and La Salle—are longtime collaborators in the Dick Wolf television universe.
Series Overview
CIA follows an unlikely partnership between a fast-talking, rule-breaking CIA case officer (Tom Ellis) and a by-the-book FBI agent (Nick Gehlfuss) working out of CIA's New York Station. They investigate threats on U.S. soil, learning that their contrasting styles become their greatest asset. The cast also includes Natalee Linez as a CIA analyst. Produced by Universal Television, Wolf Entertainment, and CBS Studios, the show is expected to premiere in midseason without further delays.