Optimism Fades for Dick Wolf’s FBI Spinoffs

For months, fans of FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International held onto hope. The shows had loyal followings, thrilling storylines, and fit neatly into Dick Wolf’s ever-expanding crime universe. Loyal viewers pointed to other rescues — The Expanse by Amazon, Lucifer by Netflix, and even Magnum P.I., which NBC picked up after CBS canceled it. Could lightning strike again for the FBI franchise?

At first, it seemed possible. Both Most Wanted season 6 and International season 4 kept fans hooked, proving that the spinoffs had plenty of life left in them. Some even speculated NBC’s streaming arm, Peacock, might be the perfect home. After all, Law & Order: Original Crime shifted there, showing that Wolf’s brand adapts well across platforms.

Unfortunately, reality has now caught up.

No Fight to Save the Shows

The crushing news came when TVLine confirmed that neither show is being shopped around. Unlike SWAT, where cast and crew fought tirelessly for survival, Most Wanted and International seem to have accepted their fate. That silence has been deafening for fans.

The lack of resistance is what stings most. When a show’s own team doesn’t campaign for its future, it signals finality. It feels like the writers and producers decided their energy was better spent creating closure instead of fighting networks. For viewers who tuned in every week, this is a painful reality: the characters they’ve grown attached to are heading toward their final bows.

Closure Instead of Cliffhangers

There is one small silver lining. Both series are reportedly shaping their finales to serve as endings. This matters more than casual fans may realize. Many CBS cancellations in recent years (NCIS: Hawai’i, So Help Me Todd) left audiences stranded with cliffhangers. That kind of unfinished storytelling leaves scars.

With Most Wanted and International, writers seem committed to providing at least a semblance of closure. We may not get every answer, but we’ll get proper farewells. That won’t erase the sting of cancellation, but it softens the blow compared to an abrupt cut.

What This Means for the FBI Franchise

For Dick Wolf’s TV empire, the loss of two FBI spinoffs marks a major contraction. The flagship series FBI still thrives, but losing both Most Wanted and International in one sweep is a heavy hit. Fans are left asking: why weren’t these shows given the same save attempts as others?

The truth is sobering. Without the cast or crew fighting, and with CBS showing no signs of renewal, the chances for outside networks to swoop in shrink dramatically. Peacock or NBC could have been logical options, but without anyone pushing the deal, the opportunity fades.

Fans Say Goodbye… For Now

While we may see FBI crossovers or cameos in the future, full seasons of Most Wanted and International appear out of reach. That reality is settling in, and for long-time viewers, it hurts. These weren’t just procedural spinoffs — they were fan favorites that brought fresh energy into the franchise.

Closure episodes will give us one last chance to say goodbye to beloved characters, but fans can’t help but imagine the “what ifs.” What if the cast had rallied? What if streaming had stepped in? What if CBS had given them more time?

Those questions now linger unanswered, replaced by a bittersweet truth: the FBI universe is shrinking, and the two spinoffs won’t escape the chopping block.