Tom Ellis Transitions from Tell Me Lies to CIA: Praises Former Costars and Discusses Role in New Series
Tom Ellis has transitioned from Tell Me Lies to the FBI spinoff CIA and is excited about the work of his former costars. He specifically praised Spencer House's performance as Wrigley in the current season. Ellis mentioned that his experience on Tell Me Lies prepared him for his role in CIA, where he plays a character who deals with deception regularly.
The actor highlighted the contrast between his character on Lucifer, who prided himself on honesty, and his new role in CIA, where lying is a common practice. Ellis discussed the challenges of portraying a character like Colin, who carefully selects what information to reveal to others for self-preservation. He emphasized the importance of trust between his character and Nick Gehlfuss' character, Bill, in the series.
FBI, the original series that spawned the CIA spinoff, premiered on CBS in 2019, followed by FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International. CBS ordered CIA as a straight-to-series project in April 2025, starring Tom Ellis and Nick Gehlfuss. The show focuses on the dynamic between a rule-breaking CIA case officer and a by-the-book FBI agent who must learn to trust each other despite their differences.
Ellis compared the FBI and CIA in terms of their approach to law enforcement, with the FBI dealing with past crimes and the CIA working to prevent future threats. He described the FBI as a public-facing agency while the CIA operates in the shadows, preferring anonymity. CIA airs on CBS on Mondays at 10 p.m. ET.
In conclusion, Tom Ellis is excited about his role in the CIA spinoff and praised the work of his costars. The series explores the complex relationship between a CIA case officer and an FBI agent, highlighting the challenges of trust and deception in their partnership. Viewers can tune in to CBS on Mondays to watch CIA unfold.