Deadline is reporting that CBS has ordered a backdoor pilot for FBI spinoff FBI: Most Wanted, which will air as an episode of FBI this spring. The project has been given a series commitment, short of a formal series order but something that makes said order much more likely.
From series creator Dick Wolf and Law & Order executive producer Rene Balcer, FBI: Most Wanted will follow the division of the FBI tasked with tracking and capturing the notorious criminals on the FBI’s Most Wanted list. Wolf is said to have at least three FBI series in mind for his latest television franchise.
The move is similar to what happened with Chicago Fire, which had a backdoor pilot for Chicago PD ordered while it was in its first season. The Chicago-verse has gone on to become an important part of NBC’s schedule, broad in appeal, durable in nature, and appealing in syndication.
Thus far this season, recently renewed FBI has been CBS’s #1 new show in total viewers and #2 overall. The series, which follows the inner workings of the New York branch of the Bureau, stars Missy Peregrym (Rookie Blue), Jeremy Sisto (Suburgatory), Zeeko Zaki (Six), and Sela Ward (Once & Again). It remains unclear whether a cast member from FBI will move to the Most Wanted division in order to set up the spinoff.
This marks Wolf’s second new series that will be on the air in 2019-20. He already has Law & Order spinoff Law & Order: Hate Crimes set up at NBC.
