After Tom Ellis was cast as one of the leads ofCIA, many speculated about his character’s origins, and the actor has finally confirmed one theory. CBS ordered the thirdFBIoffshoot in April 2025 (aftercanceling theFBIfranchise’s two other spinoffs,FBI: Most WantedandFBI: International). Like the shows that came before it,CIAfeatures a recognizable face headlining the cast — Ellis.
During an interview withParade, Ellis teased what was to come inCIAand revealed details about his character, Hart Hoxton.Ellis, who hails from Wales in real life,confirmed that Hart isn’t British. Instead, the actor will be putting on an American accent in the upcoming CBS police procedural TV series. Ellis explained:
“They don’t allow Brits in the CIA, apparently. I might go undercover as a Brit at some point in it, but yeah, I am going to be American in it.”
What Tom Ellis’s Comments Mean For His Character In The FBI Spinoff
Hart Hoxton Will Be Somewhat Different From His Previous Roles
Unlike Ellis' most famous roleas Lucifer Morningstar inLucifer, the Welsh actor won’t be speaking in a British accent in CBS’sCIA. As he toldParade,CIA agents are required to be American citizens, and the TV series evidently wants to be realistic. So, those who know Ellis as Lucifer will see him in a brand-new light in the thirdFBIspinoff.
Ellis will be taking on a new challenge in theFBIoffshoot. However, although Ellis' character is American,Hart seems to share some qualities with Lucifer.As such, it will be peculiar to watch (and listen to) Ellis playing a role with an American accent, but perhaps there will be some familiarity for those who loved him inLucifer. Plus, as the actor said, Hart could go undercover as a British man.
Our Take On Hart Hoxton In CIA
Everything We Know About Ellis’s Character
CBS’s initial description ofEllis’sCIAcharacter was that he is a"fast-talking, rule-breaking, loose-cannon CIA case officer.“Now, we know that he’s also American. Hart works alongside his partner, who is a"by-the-book, seasoned and smart FBI agent who believes in the rule of law.“As of the writing of this article, though,CIAhas yet to cast its second lead and Hart’s partner in crime.
CIAis set to premiere in the fall of 2025, airing new episodes on Mondays at 10 pm ET on CBS, following new episodes ofFBIseason 8 at 9 pm ET.
While speaking withParade,Ellis revealed some more details about theFBIspinoff. He said thathis character is a"renegade"with a lot of"moral ambiguity,“teasing how much he will clash with his FBI colleague, but also hinting that Hart is at least a little bit similar to Lucifer. Ultimately, Ellis’s leading role inCIAseems to have the best of both worlds, which makes him all the more exciting.
CIA
Cast
CIA is a series about two contrasting law enforcement officers, a maverick CIA case officer and a methodical FBI agent, who are partnered at the CIA’s New York Station. They navigate their differences to collaborate on investigations of domestic threats, discovering their divergent approaches enhance their effectiveness.
