Deadline reveals that Michele is exiting CIA. The veteran actress, known for her roles in ER and Homicide: Life on the Street, was reportedly slated to play the boss of the CIA’s New York Station. It’s unclear whether the part will be recast. Michele’s departure marks the latest shift for the closely watched CBS project.

Although it was originally planned to debut this year, CIA‘s premiere was pushed to 2026 as it brought in a new showrunner. Warren Leight, who previously worked on Law & Order: SVU, replaced FBI: Most Wanted showrunner David Hudgins amidst a creative restructuring. The original plan would have seen three characters, including the one played by Ellis, being introduced first in the main FBI series before moving on to the spinoff. However, that plan has been hampered by a few casting setbacks.

Michele’s departure is another casting change to add to the pile. But the core concept of the show remains the same. CIA will follow two unlikely partners. One is a rule-breaking CIA case officer, played by Ellis. The other, played by Gehlfuss, is more traditional. He’s a seasoned and smart FBI agent who believes in the rule of law. The odd couple is assigned to work together at the CIA’s New York Station.

In the spinoff, which also stars Natalee Linez as a CIA analyst, the two characters have to find common ground in order to investigate and solve dangerous cases. Along the way, they learn that their differences may actually count as a strength. CIA has a bit of a different approach for the more procedural franchise, after the conclusions of FBI: International and FBI: Most Wanted, and it sounds like it’s taking some time to get the balance just right.