The bizarre revolving door on FBI is continuing as season 8 will have one agent making a return, but it sounds like it won’t be for long with a replacement already coming in!

FBI fans had been blessed with a pretty stable cast throughout the show’s run. While there were a few departures after the show’s first season, for several years, the show was steady with its cast. That changed when Katherine Renee Kane, who played Agent Tiffany Wallace, left the show in the season 7 premiere.

Now, however, the series is prepping for another strange cast shift. TVLine has confirmed that Emily Alabi, who joined mid-way through season 7 as agent Dani Rhodes, will be back for FBI season 8. However, it seems it won’t be as a full-time agent but rather to “wrap up her storyline.”

Instead, season 8 will see former Law & Order: SVU actress Juliana Aidén Martinez joining in an as-yet-unnamed role. The actress played Detective Kate Silva on SVU but was dropped alongside Octavio Spencer earlier in 2025.

It’s yet another strange turn on the surprisingly complex road to replacing Wallace on FBI!

What is happening with FBI’s casting?

When Wallace departed, it left Stuart Scola (John Boyd) without a partner for a bit. The plan was for Lisette Olivera to fill the gap as Sydney Ortiz, a young agent joining the team. She seemed to be set to be a regular, but in a shocking turn, Olivera departed the show before Sydney’s debut episode even aired.

Ortiz was written out by getting a new assignment in Washington, D.C. Rhodes was introduced in a great episode where she helped save an endangered Maggie and proved her agent chops. She seemed set for a long run as well, only now it sounds like she’s only going to be around for a few episodes before she’s gone.

Why FBI is having such trouble seems off but it sounds like it’s been harder than expected filling the void left behind by Tiffany. The series seems to be going for a type of younger female agent, and it appears neither Olivera nor Alabi was seen as proper for the role. Alabi did show more grit than Olivera did, yet wasn’t given as much time to show it off.

Martinez does have experience in a Dick Wolf ensemble, thanks to SVU, and can be more believable as an agent. It may be that she was a former cop before joining the FBI and might be more capable of fitting in with Scola.

It still seems confusing to viewers that FBI is having so much trouble getting a new agent to stay on board. Hopefully, the third time will be the charm as it’s hard to see an FBI unit able to handle a revolving door of new hires coming on.

The casting situation on CBS’s FBI has become a veritable revolving door, particularly concerning the partner role for Special Agent Stuart Scola (John Boyd) following the departure of Katherine Renee Kane as Agent Tiffany Wallace. What was once a relatively stable ensemble has entered a period of surprising and rapid cast changes, leaving fans and even critics somewhat bewildered.

What’s Happening with FBI’s Casting?

The root of the current casting instability can be traced directly back to the early Season 7 exit of Katherine Renee Kane. Kane, who played the popular Agent Tiffany Wallace, left the show to pursue “new creative endeavors,” and her character’s departure was explained by her needing to leave the demanding life of an FBI agent behind. This left a significant void, as Tiffany had developed strong on-screen chemistry with Scola and was a well-established character within the team.

Since Tiffany’s exit, the show has seemingly struggled to find a permanent replacement for Scola, leading to a series of short-lived attempts:

1. Lisette Olivera as Sydney Ortiz: The first attempt to fill Tiffany’s shoes was Lisette Olivera’s Sydney Ortiz, a young agent from the Behavioral Analysis Unit. Initially, she appeared to be set as a series regular. However, in a surprising turn, Olivera departed the show even before her character’s debut episode aired. Reports indicated that producers felt Olivera, at 25, read as too young to be a convincing FBI agent with the necessary experience to partner with a seasoned agent like Scola, leading to a creative decision to move in a different direction. Ortiz was written out by being given a new assignment in Washington, D.C.

2. Emily Alabi as Dani Rhodes: Following Olivera’s swift exit, Emily Alabi joined mid-way through Season 7 as Agent Dani Rhodes. Her introduction was notably strong, showcasing her “agent chops” and even having her play a crucial role in saving Maggie Bell’s life in a “great episode.” This seemingly positioned Rhodes for a longer run, and many viewers felt she had the “grit” suitable for the role. However, TVLine has confirmed that Alabi will only return for FBI Season 8 to “wrap up her storyline.” This means another promising candidate for Scola’s permanent partner is exiting after a very brief stint. While the exact reasons for Alabi’s departure aren’t as clear as Olivera’s, it again suggests that the showrunners are still actively searching for the “right fit.”

3. Juliana Aidén Martinez: The latest development sees Juliana Aidén Martinez, formerly of Law & Order: SVU, joining FBI in a series regular role for Season 8. Martinez played Detective Kate Silva on SVU but was among two actors whose characters were not asked back for Season 27 of the NBC procedural earlier in 2025. While her role on FBI is currently unnamed, it’s widely speculated that she will be Scola’s new, and hopefully permanent, partner.

Why the Trouble in Casting?

The recurring difficulty in casting Scola’s partner seems “off” for a show that otherwise enjoyed a stable core cast for several years. Several factors might be contributing to this complex road:

• Filling a Significant Void: Tiffany Wallace was a well-developed character with strong relationships within the team. Replacing such a character, especially one who had become integral to a partnership dynamic, is inherently challenging. The show might be aiming for a very specific “type” of younger female agent, and finding an actress who embodies that vision, has the right chemistry with John Boyd, and fits the long-term plans of the show seems to be a more difficult task than anticipated.

• Creative Misalignment: In Olivera’s case, it was explicitly stated that the character was “too young” to fit the desired dynamic with Scola. This suggests a disconnect between the initial casting vision and the reality of the character on screen. With Alabi, while her performance was well-received, perhaps the long-term character arc or chemistry wasn’t precisely what the producers were looking for, or there were external factors not disclosed publicly.

• Dick Wolf Universe Casting Norms: While it’s common for actors to move between different Dick Wolf shows (as seen with Martinez coming from SVU), the rapid succession of short-term hires for a key series regular role on FBI is unusual even within this universe. Martinez’s prior experience in a Dick Wolf ensemble on SVU could be a significant advantage, as she’s already familiar with the procedural style, the demanding production schedule, and the overall tone. Her role as a detective might also make her more “believable as an agent” who could fit in well with Scola’s established character, potentially bringing the “former cop” background the show seems to be leaning towards.

Hope for Stability

Viewers are understandably confused by the “revolving door” of new hires. The consistency of team dynamics is a hallmark of procedural dramas, and frequent changes can disrupt audience investment in character relationships.

FBI Season 8 is set to premiere on Monday, October 13, at 9/8c on CBS. The hope is that with Juliana Aidén Martinez’s casting, the “third time will be the charm,” and Scola will finally find a lasting partner. A stable partnership is crucial for character development and team cohesion, and fans are eager to see the team settle back into a more consistent rhythm.