Oh, this looks like it’s going to be fun.
With the premiere just weeks away, CBS has released the first trailer for CIA, its new FBI offshoot — and the footage makes one thing immediately clear: Tom Ellis and Nick Gehlfuss are about to be a very entertaining law-enforcement duo.
CBS dropped the trailer on Monday, December 15, offering a first look at the series ahead of its debut on Monday, February 23 at 10/9c, following FBI Season 8’s winter return. The video introduces Ellis and Gehlfuss’ characters, setting up a partnership defined by clashing methods, sharp banter, and uneasy trust.
In CIA, Nick Gehlfuss plays Bill Goodman, a by-the-book FBI special agent assigned to a clandestine CIA/FBI task force. His new partner couldn’t be more different: Tom Ellis stars as Colin Glass, described as a “secretive and roguish” CIA case officer who operates firmly in the shadows.
According to the official description, “Together they will work covert operations in New York, uncovering international plots, terrorist cells, and geopolitical secrets.” As Bill is pulled deeper into the intelligence world, the series promises a steep learning curve. “On CIA, Bill will learn the rules of this murky world on the fly as Colin leads him deeper into spy games where only one thing is clear — their work keeps America safe, even if no one will ever know what they did in the shadows.”
The trailer leans into that contrast right away. In one standout moment, Colin undergoes a polygraph test and is asked whether he’s ever told a lie. His response says everything about his worldview: “Isn’t lying part of the job description of the CIA?”
The banter continues as Bill and Colin trade dry, revealing exchanges that underline just how differently they approach danger. “You’re not much use to me alive, but you’re really no use to me dead,” Bill says at one point. “I never knew you cared,” Colin shoots back.
While the FBI operates in plain sight and the CIA prefers secrecy, the trailer makes it clear that both men are driven by the same mission: keeping the country safe — regardless of the cost or recognition.
The series also stars Necar Zadegan as the CIA Chief of Station and Natalee Linez as a CIA analyst. CIA is produced by Universal Television, Wolf Entertainment, and CBS Studios.
With sharp dialogue, high-stakes espionage, and a partnership built on tension, CIA looks ready to carve out its own identity within the FBI universe.
CIA premieres Monday, February 23 at 10/9c on CBS.
