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The CBS Network<\/a> is grappling with another significant blow as a key cast member has departed from its forthcoming series, “CIA,” in what insiders are calling a substantial casting shakeup.<\/p>\n Deadline has exclusively learned that actress Michael Michele, who was set to portray the head of the CIA’s New York<\/a> Station in the drama, has walked away from the project. This comes just after network icon Gayle King stepped away.<\/a><\/p>\n The show, which stars Tom Ellis and Nick Gehlfuss in leading roles, kicked off filming in September with plans for a mid-season debut. Whether Michele’s character will be recast, eliminated, or reimagined remains uncertain; sources indicate “that has not been confirmed and appears unclear at the moment.”<\/p>\n This exit represents the second significant shake-up for the production. After receiving a direct series order in April, CIA experienced a leadership transition during the summer months when Warren Leight took over showrunning duties from David Hudgins following behind-the-scenes turbulence.<\/p>\n The show’s storyline centers on a CIA case officer (Ellis) who teams up with an FBI agent (Gehlfuss). The duo operates from the CIA’s New York<\/a> Station headquarters.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Michele had been tapped to lead the station, while the cast also includes Natalee Linez as a CIA analyst. Universal Television, part of Universal Studio Group, is producing the series alongside Wolf Entertainment and CBS Studios.<\/p>\n The executive producer roster features veteran television powerhouse Dick Wolf, along with Warren Leight, Nicole Perlman, David Chasteen, and Peter Jankowski. Michele’s departure from CBS comes at a critical time for the network.<\/p>\n Its parent company, Paramount Global, recently settled a lawsuit filed by Donald Trump<\/a>, who accused CBS’s news magazine show 60 Minutes of misleadingly editing an interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential campaign.<\/p>\n DON’T MISS:<\/strong><\/p>\n Fox News fans make jab at Trump’s ‘fragile little hand’ as he hands out candy<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Fox and Friends host forced to give explanation after co-host questions story<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n