After four seasons of international chases, explosive arrests, and emotionally driven missions, FBI: International has officially been grounded. The unexpected cancellation of the hit CBS series left fans stunned—and co-creator Derek Haas heartbroken.

In an emotional interview with TVLine, Haas broke his silence about the network’s decision to axe the series. “It’s just sad,” he admitted candidly. Known for his work on Chicago Fire and the upcoming Countdown for Prime Video, Haas is no stranger to high-stakes TV. But this one cut deeper. FBI: International wasn’t just another procedural—it was a show with a distinct tone, a global scale, and a passionate cast that truly clicked in Season 4.

One of the bright spots Haas highlights is the late addition of Jesse Lee Soffer, who stepped into the series after the exit of lead actor Luke Kleintank (Scott Forrester). Soffer, a soap and primetime veteran (As the World Turns, Chicago P.D.), joined as Wesley “Wes” Mitchell, bringing with him a mix of edge, charm, and tactical intelligence that invigorated the show. “He was a dynamic cast addition,” Haas emphasized. “I loved what Jesse brought to the role.”

It wasn’t just Soffer’s standalone impact that impressed. His chemistry with Jay Hayden (Station 19)—who played the mysterious and deeply loyal Tyler Booth—brought a magnetic new energy to the show. “They were gold together,” Haas added. Fans seemed to agree, quickly latching onto the Wes-Tyler dynamic as the emotional anchor of the final episodes.

But just as the show was finding its next gear, the plug was pulled.

When asked for insight into the reasoning behind the cancellation, Haas offered none. “I had no insight into the decision,” he confessed, before pivoting to trust. He gave respectful nods to Amy Reisenbach, President of CBS Entertainment, and Eric Kim, who oversees primetime and daytime programming, as well as to Wolf Entertainment, the production powerhouse behind the FBI franchise.

“I trust their instincts,” Haas said. “So they must’ve had reasons that had nothing to do with the quality of the show.” His words—measured but tinged with frustration—echoed what Reisenbach herself admitted earlier this year: the decision came down to cold, hard numbers.

In May, Reisenbach addressed the cancellation publicly, saying CBS needed “to be fiscally responsible.” The shows “just weren’t penciling out for us from an economic perspective,” she said, referring to both FBI: International and FBI: Most Wanted, which ended its six-season run the same night International aired its final episode.

“It’s never easy to end shows,” she continued. “We had a lot of options this year. We always have to look at all of our shows—look at the aggregate information. The creative, where they are in their life cycle, what the finances look like, what the ratings are—and we make those tough decisions.”

It’s a brutal reality of television: beloved characters, promising new arcs, and explosive season finales can all vanish overnight if the spreadsheets don’t align. And in the case of FBI: International, that meant saying goodbye just as a new story was beginning to form.

Soffer’s entrance was supposed to mark a turning point. The baton had been passed from Kleintank’s Forrester to Wes Mitchell, a character poised to lead a new era of elite, globe-trotting investigations. His pairing with Booth hinted at layers of personal complexity, of secrets still untold. But now, fans will never know what might have been.

Created in 2021 as a spinoff of the flagship FBI series, International carved out its own identity. With stories unfolding across Europe and beyond, it offered viewers a taste of global intrigue—often with uniquely human dilemmas at the center. And while the characters operated in a foreign landscape, the emotional core remained familiar: loyalty, justice, and sacrifice.

Its sister spinoff, FBI: Most Wanted, helmed by René Balcer, shared a similar fate. Despite a loyal fanbase and six seasons of success, it too met its end. Yet the original FBI series, created by Dick Wolf and Craig Turk, lives on. In fact, it’s been renewed through the 2026–2027 broadcast season, outlasting its younger siblings in the franchise.

But CBS isn’t done with this universe. In a surprise twist, the network has greenlit a new series simply titled CIA, set to debut this fall. Led by Lucifer alum Tom Ellis, the show will explore the covert side of federal intelligence, offering a new lens into national security and personal sacrifice. Whether CIA will recapture the momentum of FBI: International remains to be seen—but the shift is clear. The network is betting on a new tone, a new angle, and a new hero.

For now, the pain of FBI: International’s cancellation lingers. For the cast, the creators, and the fans, this wasn’t just the end of a series—it was the silencing of stories still waiting to be told.

“Sometimes,” Haas said, “it’s not about what makes sense on paper. It’s about what felt alive on screen.”

Will fans follow Jesse Lee Soffer and Jay Hayden into new roles? Will CIA fill the void left behind? And will CBS ever revisit the International team—perhaps for one last mission?