FBI: International Co-Creator Opens Up About Cancellation Before Season 5
Fans of FBI: International got some tough news this year. After four solid seasons, CBS announced the show was done. No Season 5. Just like that, it was over. And now, co-creator Derek Haas is finally talking about what happened behind the scenes — or more accurately, what didn’t.
Derek Haas Was Just As Shocked As Everyone Else
When asked about the cancellation, Haas didn’t hide his emotions. “I was so sad to hear about the cancellation,” he told TVLine. He especially felt disappointed because Season 4 had just started hitting its stride. The casting of Jesse Lee Soffer as Wes Mitchell, paired with Jay Hayden, gave the show a fresh energy. Haas called them “gold together.”
It seemed like the show had new life, but the cancellation came anyway. And here’s the thing — Haas says no one ever gave him a reason.
“I have no insight into why it was cancelled,” he admitted. He went on to say he trusts the leadership at CBS, including Amy Reisenbach and Eric Kim. So whatever the reasons were, he assumes they had nothing to do with how the show was performing creatively.
CBS Had Tough Decisions to Make
In a press briefing back in May, Reisenbach explained that canceling FBI: International and FBI: Most Wanted was not easy. “We had a lot of options this year,” she said. CBS had to weigh ratings, production costs, and overall finances.
And that’s where things get confusing for fans.
FBI: International wasn’t doing poorly. In fact, the show averaged 6.5 million total viewers with delayed viewing — better than several CBS dramas that were renewed, including Fire Country and NCIS: Sydney.
Filming Abroad Didn’t Save It
A lot of fans thought the show would be safe because of its unique setting. The cast filmed in Budapest, Hungary, which is reportedly cheaper than filming in the U.S. But according to CBS, even that wasn’t enough to keep things going.
Reisenbach made it clear. “Ultimately those deals and the shows just weren’t penciling out for us from an economic perspective.”
Behind-the-Scenes Tensions Might Have Played a Role
There was also talk of “difficult renewal negotiations” between CBS and NBCUniversal, who co-produce the series. That friction might’ve pushed things over the edge.
Even though FBI: International is gone, the FBI franchise isn’t slowing down. The original FBI is renewed through 2027. And now there’s a new spinoff in the works called CIA, with Tom Ellis set to star.
Still, for those who loved the international team and their global cases, this one stings. And for Derek Haas, it’s clear he’s just as heartbroken as the fans.
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