CIA TV Show Cast 2026: Tom Ellis, Nick Gehlfuss Lead CBS's New FBI Spinoff
CBS launched its boldest addition to the Dick Wolf universe when the CIA show premiered on Monday, February 23, 2026 at 10 PM ET. Starring Tom Ellis and Nick Gehlfuss, the CIA cast brings a sharp espionage edge to the familiar procedural format — and early buzz suggests audiences are already hooked.
What Is the CIA TV Show About?
CIA is a police procedural spy thriller set in New York City, created by Dick Wolf and David Hudgins. The CIA show follows a clandestine joint task force pairing a rule-breaking CIA case officer with a by-the-book FBI special agent as they work together to neutralize domestic terrorism threats. It is a direct spinoff of the long-running FBI franchise on CBS and streams on Paramount+ the day after episodes air.
Full CIA Cast 2026: Lead and Supporting Actors
The CIA cast 2026 features a tight core ensemble anchored by two strong leads, with recurring and guest roles rounding out the world.
| Actor | Character | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Tom Ellis | Colin Glass | CIA Case Officer |
| Nick Gehlfuss | Bill Goodman | FBI Special Agent |
| Natalee Linez | Gina Rojas | CIA Analyst |
| Necar Zadegan | Nikki Reynard | Deputy Chief of Station |
| Jeremy Sisto | Jubal Valentine | ASAC (FBI crossover) |
| Melinda Michael | Mona Azar | Recurring |
| Kyra Zagorsky | Sonya Pesyakova | Recurring |
Tom Ellis as CIA Case Officer Colin Glass
Tom Ellis, best known for his decade-long run as the Devil himself in Lucifer, leads the CIA show as Colin Glass — described by producers as a "fast-talking, rule-breaking, loose cannon." Ellis was attached to the project before a script even existed, joining when the concept was little more than an idea. His character Glass operates comfortably in moral gray zones, treating rules as suggestions rather than guardrails. Ellis confirmed his character is American, a notable departure from his own Welsh roots.
Nick Gehlfuss Joins the CIA Cast as FBI Agent Bill Goodman
Nick Gehlfuss, previously recognized for years as Dr. Will Halstead on Chicago Med, makes a deliberate pivot with the CIA cast. His FBI character, Bill Goodman, is the polar opposite of his former role — clean-cut, methodical, and deeply committed to legal procedure. Gehlfuss has described the partnership between Glass and Goodman as rooted in genuine friction, noting that the CIA and FBI only began formal field collaboration after September 11, 2001. The CIA show leans into that institutional distrust as a dramatic engine.
The CIA and FBI Partnership Dynamic
The heart of the CIA TV show is the odd-couple pairing of Glass and Goodman. Producers held extensive chemistry reads before locking in Gehlfuss opposite Ellis — and Ellis himself noted that Gehlfuss was not the first actor tested for the role. Once the two connected, however, the dynamic clicked. Their on-screen tension mirrors a genuine behind-the-scenes camaraderie that both actors have spoken openly about.
Where to Watch the CIA Show and Episode Schedule
- Network: CBS
- Premiere: February 23, 2026
- Airtime: Mondays at 10 PM ET
- Streaming: Paramount+ (live with Premium plan; next-day with any plan)
- Season Length: 10 episodes
The CIA cast 2026 brings together a veteran procedural infrastructure with fresher spy-thriller energy. With Tom Ellis and Nick Gehlfuss driving every scene, the CIA show is positioned as one of CBS's most ambitious franchise expansions to date.
