CBS’ CIA Cast Another One Chicago Vet, And It Probably Means Bad News For One Chicago P.D. Character’s Love Life

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CBS’s new drama, *CIA*, was initially planned to premiere alongside *FBI* in the fall of 2025, with the former executive producer of *FBI: Most Wanted* leading the creative team. However, the show’s release has been delayed until midseason, meaning fans will have to wait several months to see Tom Ellis in his new role. Recently, Nick Gehlfuss from *Chicago Med* joined the cast, and now another actor from the *One Chicago* universe is making the move from NBC to CBS. This is exciting news for the actor, but it means a potential storyline change for Kevin Atwater on *Chicago P.D.*

CIA’s Newest Cast Member

Natalee Linez will appear in the new CBS series *CIA*, playing a CIA analyst named Gina Rojas. She joins Tom Ellis, who plays a somewhat unpredictable CIA officer, and Nick Gehlfuss, who plays a more rule-following FBI agent. Michael Michele, known from *ER*, will play the head of the CIA’s New York office – a role that seems similar to Isobel’s position in *FBI*.

I’ve noticed something really interesting – Linez is now part of a cool trend within the *Law & Order* and *FBI* shows! It seems like when a star decides to move on from one Dick Wolf series, they often end up on another. We’ve seen it with Jeremy Sisto and Alana De La Garza jumping from *Law & Order* to *FBI*, and Dylan McDermott completely changing gears from his *Law & Order: Organized Crime* role to *FBI: Most Wanted*. Even Jesse Lee Soffer made the move, leaving *Chicago P.D.* to lead a season of *FBI: International*. It’s fun to see these actors pop up in different corners of the same TV universe!

The core cast of *Chicago P.D.* will remain the same for Season 13, which begins this fall. While Linez appeared in several episodes of the recently completed twelfth season (now available on Peacock), her character’s departure might particularly impact Kevin Atwater, who often struggles with romance.

Is Chicago P.D. Losing Val?

Though *Chicago P.D.* is generally focused on case-of-the-week investigations and is often the grimmest of the *One Chicago* shows, the detectives usually find time for romance. However, Officer Kevin Atwater, played by LaRoyce Hawkins, has rarely been a focus of romantic storylines over the past twelve seasons. That seemed to be changing with his connection to Val after Natalee Linez appeared in three episodes. While their relationship did involve a murder investigation, what romance on *Chicago P.D.* doesn’t get tangled up in a case at some point?

Technically, it’s not confirmed that Linez landing her new CIA role means that Val has already made her last appearance on Chicago P.D., and Nick Gehlfuss is returning to Chicago Med this season while also co-leading CIA. Still, Linez will be filming in the Big Apple rather than the Windy City now, with no indication that she’ll be filming in Chicago again. Her Instagram post about her casting even notes the big move. She wrote in the caption:

I’m incredibly excited and happy to be part of this amazing show! It’s been a crazy, wonderful experience, and I’m now officially a New Yorker!

It’s unclear how *Chicago P.D.* will deal with Atwater’s relationship now that Natalee Linez has been cast in *CIA*. The show could potentially continue the romance without showing it on screen, or simply ignore her departure if she doesn’t reappear. (I’m still hoping for some resolution to Rojas’ storyline!) LaRoyce Hawkins, who plays Atwater, showed his support for Linez by leaving a comment on her Instagram post.

[T[here she go ✨✨

CBS hasn’t announced an official release date for the new series, but it’s likely to premiere in early 2026. Originally, Season 2 was going to start with *Watson* in the middle of the season, but plans changed and *CIA* will now debut this fall instead. While it’s expected to air alongside *FBI*, CBS hasn’t confirmed if the two shows will be related.

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2025-09-17 13:38