Recently, there’s been a rise in interest in true crime documentaries. But crime shows have been around since forever. You’ve got Law & Order, NCIS, Criminal Minds, CSI and not to mention all of their franchises and offshoots. And while each of these shows is different, we absolutely love them all. There’s just something so addicting about watching absolute geniuses piece together the scientific evidence to catch the bad guys!
One of the most recent crime shows to grace our screens was CBS’ FBI. And since FBI was an instant hit, it presented the network with an opportunity to expand the world of the show. So, in January 2019, CBS announced that they had commissioned a backdoor pilot for a potential spin-off series that would focus on the FBI’s Fugitive Task Force, titled FBI: Most Wanted.
According to the parent show’s creator Dick Wolf, FBI: Most Wanted is the first in a series of interconnected shows similar to what he did with NBC’s Law & Order and One Chicago franchises. And in early May, after the backdoor pilot had successfully aired on CBS, the network announced that FBI: Most Wanted had been officially ordered to series and would premiere on Tuesday, January 7.
The minds behind it
René Balcer is at the helm of FBI: Most Wanted as both writer and executive producer alongside Wolf. The two have a professional history, as Balcer has also worked on several Law & Order franchises as well. Fellow executive producers include Arthur W. Forney and Peter Jankowski.
The backdoor pilot episode, which premiered in April of 2019 (FBI’s season 1 episode 18), was directed by Fred Berner and written by Balcer.
CBS Television Studios will be working in association with Wolf Entertainment and Universal Television as the production studios behind the show.
The storyline of FBI: Most Wanted
The FBI’s Fugitive Task Force makes its first appearance in the parent series, where they team up with members of the FBI’s New York office to capture an ICE deportation officer on the run for killing his entire family.
The job of the Fugitive Task Force is to track and capture the most notorious and dangerous criminals on the Bureau’s ‘Most Wanted’ list. They are made up of relentless, highly-skilled agents functioning as a mobile undercover unit that’s always out on the field and ready to go at a moment’s notice. FBI: Most Wanted follows the team as they put their wits to the test to chase after the country’s most evil.
The team’s leader, Jess LaCroix, sums it up perfectly in the trailer: “Our job is not to bring justice to the Most Wanted. Our job is to bring the Most Wanted to justice.”
Who will we be seeing?
Since the backdoor pilot aired a few months before the official trailer was released, we already have a good idea who the show’s recurring cast will be. Agent LaCroix will be played by Julian McMahon (Nip/Tuck, Premonition).
Alongside him will be his esteemed team members. Alana de la Garza, who has been a regular on crime shows like Law & Order, CSI, and Criminal Minds as Isobel Castille. As well as Keisha Castle-Hughes (Game of Thrones, Whale Rider) as Hana Gibson, Kellan Lutz (Twilight Saga, The Legend of Hercules) as Crosby, Nathaniel Arcand (Heartland) as Clinton Skye, and Roxy Sternberg (Absentia, Emerald City) as Sheryll Barnes.
When to catch it?
In FBI: Most Wanted, you have all the makings of an exhilarating crime series. The writers and directors have worked on many similar (and notable long-running) shows, and even the cast members are crime show veterans!
On top of that, what’s not to love about seeing the worst criminal offenders being brought to justice? So, keep your eyes peeled for FBI: Most Wanted on your screens starting January 7th.
I really can’t wait to watch this show. I love FBI and LAW and ORDER, so I’m positive that this is going to be awesome!!! Can you please tell me when I can expect to see it airing on my t.v.? Thank you so much,
Nicole K Schimek
FBI: Most Wanted is expected to premiere on CBS in early 2020.