Derek Haas, co-creator of FBI: International, is speaking out following CBS's decision to cancel the show after four seasons.
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In an interview with TVLine, Haas said he was "sad to hear" the news and admitted he doesn't know why the network pulled the plug.
"I have no insight into the cancellation," Haas said. "But I trust the instincts of the people making those decisions."
Haas praised CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach and Eric Kim, head of current programming, as well as Wolf Entertainment, the company behind the FBI franchise.
"They must've had reasons [to cancel the show] that had nothing to do with the quality," he added.
Show Addition Garners Praise
Haas also reflected on the show's evolution, singling out Jesse Lee Soffer's performance as a standout in the fourth season. Soffer, best known for his work on Chicago P.D. and As the World Turns, joined the cast as Special Agent Wes Mitchell.
"He was a dynamic cast addition in Season 4," Haas said. "I loved what he brought to the show."
Soffer replaced Luke Kleintank, who exited earlier in the season. Haas also praised Soffer's on-screen chemistry with Station 19 alum Jay Hayden, who played Tyler Booth.
"They were gold together," Haas said.
CBS Cites Budgets, Not Ratings
In May, Reisenbach addressed the cancellation publicly. She cited financial concerns -- not creative issues -- as the primary factor behind CBS's decision to cancel FBI: International and fellow spinoff FBI: Most Wanted.
"Ultimately, those deals and the shows just weren't penciling out for us from an economic perspective," she said. "We always have to look at all of our shows -- the creative, the life cycle, finances, and ratings --and make tough decisions."
Despite the disappointment, Haas remains busy. He previously co-created Chicago Fire and is now developing Countdown for Prime Video.
CBS has renewed the flagship FBI series for a seventh season. No plans have been announced to continue FBI: International on another platform.
Haas said he's grateful to the fans who supported the show from the start. While FBI: International ends its run, he hopes its characters and stories "will live on in the minds of viewers."
