Prior to the close of the 2024/2025 television series, the Dick Wolf-led FBI universe underwent a sea of change. A couple of its offshoots were axed, while the flagship series remained and is set to return for a new season this fall. Ahead of Season 8, FBI has undergone further changes during the off-season, with cast members departing and arriving. One character who is sure to return is Zeeko Zaki’s Omar Adom Zidan, aka OA. Zaki leads the series alongside Missy Peregrym’s Maggie Bell. What differentiates a poor television show from a great one is how well the actors portray their characters. Zaki has revealed a unique way he prepares for his role as OA in the procedural drama.

FBI is a law enforcement procedural series which follows the agents of the New York field office as they try to protect the public from nefarious criminals. It’s dangerous and intense, as shown in the Season 7 finale where the status of one main character remains in the balance. Despite it being entirely fiction, there is a need to approach the roles realistically, and this is what Zaki does. A post shared on X features the actor preparing for the new season, with Zaki sharing how he prepares for his role as OA, physically training as if he really is “chasing these bad guys.” The actor commented, saying:

“The way I prepare for a new season or episode is physically. Our job is very athletic. We film outside, we film for a very very long time, 10 months, so you just have to make sure that you can physically do it. So just get in the gym and pretend that you are actually solving these crimes and chasing these bad guys. And that’s the way you do it.”

‘FBI’ Continues Its Efforts To Find The Right Fit For This Character

With a physically ready OA returning for Season 8, FBI’s Jeremy Sisto, who plays Jubal Valentine, Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) of the New York Field Office, will have another new agent joining the team. Since the departure of Special Agent Tiffany Wallace, played by Katherine Renee Kane, in the Season 7 premiere, the show has struggled to find a partner for John Boyd’s Stuart Scola. Come the new season, Magnum P.I. alum Emily Alabi, who recurred as Scola’s partner in Season 7, will not be returning. The show has since added Law & Order: Special Victims Unit alum, Juliana Aidén Martinez to the mix, and while it has not been confirmed that Martinez will partner Boyd’s Scola, it looks likely.

Maggie, OA, Jubal, and the rest of the team will return for FBI Season 8 on Monday, October 13 at 9 p.m. on CBS. The latest franchise spin-off, FBI: CIA, led by Tom Ellis, had been poised to launch on the same day as the flagship series has been delayed till mid-season following a creative redirection.

You can watch past episodes of FBI on Paramount+. Stay with Collider for the latest updates.