‘FBI’ Season 9 Release Date, Plot, Cast and Trailer as the Series Returns with OA Undercover, a New Partner for Maggie, and a ‘CIA’ Crossover

‘FBI‘ Season 9 premieres Monday, October 5, at 8 PM ET/PT on CBS, and it opens with one of the biggest status quo shake-ups the Dick Wolf drama has attempted. The series first premiered back on September 25, 2018, so a fresh creative jolt this deep into its run is a big deal for longtime viewers.

At the center of it all is OA’s undercover mission, a storyline that splits up one of network television’s most dependable partnerships. Here is everything we know about the new season, from the release date and plot to the cast and the trailer.

‘FBI’ Season 9 Release Date and Where to Watch

The new season airs on CBS and streams on Paramount+. Paramount+ Premium subscribers can watch live and on demand, while Essential subscribers get episodes the day after they air.

There is also a scheduling change worth noting. ‘FBI’ now moves into the 8 PM Monday slot, an hour earlier than its traditional spot, and it sits directly before ‘CIA’ Season 2 at 9 PM. That creates a two hour block of connected Dick Wolf dramas.

The season is listed at 22 episodes, which gives the writers plenty of room to play out the undercover arc. CBS had already renewed the show through this season as part of a multi season renewal announced in 2024, so the return was never in doubt.

‘FBI’ Season 9 Plot After That Season 8 Cliffhanger

The story picks up from a finale that left fans scrambling. In “Defector,” OA is apparently fired by Assistant Director in Charge Lawrence Green for protesting the cover-up of a virus outbreak. The firing turned out to be a ruse orchestrated by Maggie Bell and Isobel Castille to plant OA inside Anna Vorpe’s inner circle.

The season premiere, titled “Rendition,” follows the team as it investigates the murder of a young traveler who witnessed an execution tied to a top secret government project. OA’s undercover assignment is set to last more than one episode, and he struggles to balance his new role without getting too immersed in the world he has infiltrated.

Showrunner Mike Weiss has already warned viewers not to expect business as usual. He confirmed to TV Insider that Zeeko Zaki is not going anywhere, but said audiences might see OA in some different rooms at the start of the season.

‘FBI’ Season 9 Cast and Maggie’s New Partner

The core ensemble is largely intact. The main cast includes Missy Peregrym, Zeeko Zaki, Jeremy Sisto, Alana De La Garza, John Boyd and Juliana Aiden Martinez. Sisto’s Jubal Valentine continues to coordinate investigations from the team’s headquarters at 26 Fed.

The newcomer drawing the most attention is Maggie’s new partner. Roland Buck III, known for ‘Chicago Med,’ plays Isaiah Green. Maggie struggles to bond with him while OA adjusts to his new role, which promises some friction for a series that has leaned so heavily on its central pairing.

Zaki sounds energized by the change. He said he is excited to play something different, though he is also eager to get back to the team. Boyd’s Stuart Scola is also set to appear in the ‘CIA’ Season 2 premiere on the same night, which hints at how tightly the two shows are linked this year.

‘FBI’ Season 9 Trailer and the ‘CIA’ Crossover

The trailer leans hard into danger. Maggie remarks that the opposing team came prepared and knew the team’s weaknesses, and Isobel asks who they are. That sets up a clear sense of escalation for the opening episodes.

The sharpest moment arrives at the very end. The footage teases a twist in which Maggie comes upon one of the opposing team, who is revealed to be OA. The same report cautions that the trailer could simply be cut to look that way, so fans should treat the moment with a healthy dose of suspicion.

The premiere also doubles as a crossover event. ‘CIA’ Deputy Chief of Station Nikki Reynard, played by Necar Zadegan, appears in the ‘FBI’ premiere. The two shows are telling separate episodes rather than one two hour story, though the cases and characters are clearly connected. With OA living a double life and Maggie leaning on a brand new partner, do you think Isaiah Green can truly fill the gap, or will the Maggie and OA reunion steal the spotlight the moment it happens?