Dylan McDermott is set to permanently join the cast of FBI: Most Wanted after his debut in season 3, replacing Julian McMahon when he leaves the show. FBI: Most Wanted season 3 premiered on September 3rd, 2021. McMahon has starred in the lead role since the series first aired in January 2020.
Debuting on January 7, 2020, with the episode "Dopesick," FBI: Most Wanted follows the Bureau's Fugitive Task Force that is assigned to apprehend the most notorious and dangerous individuals wanted by the FBI. McMahon starred as the team's leader, Supervisory Special Agent Jess LaCroix, who also acts as a tracker and criminal profiler. McMahon has starred in the role since the FBI episode "Most Wanted", which served as a backdoor pilot to FBI: Most Wanted, and has played the character across the show's 3 seasons. Despite this, McMahon revealed that he will leave the show before season 3's conclusion.
As revealed by Deadline, McDermott will replace McMahon as the lead role in FBI: Most Wanted once the latter departs the show on March 8th, 2021. McDermott will first appear in episode 17 of the third season, which will air in April after McMahon's final episode. Though McDermott's character is as of yet unknown, it has been revealed that he will be playing a new character. Once McDermott joins the show in future seasons, it is expected that his recurring role as Richard Wheatley in Law & Order: Organized Crime will be wound down as he takes a more central role in FBI: Most Wanted.
Spinning off from FBI, Most Wanted is the first spin-off of Law & Order creator Dick Wolf's CBS drama, which first aired in 2018. Though Most Wanted was the first spinoff, it wasn't the last, as a second spin-off titled FBI: International was announced in 2020. International launched out of a three-part storyline told across the premieres of season 4 and season 3 of FBI and Most Wanted respectively, ultimately concluding in the pilot episode of International in September 2o21. With the series being helmed by Wolf as part of a shared universe, many are hopeful for future crossovers, with International star Jeremy Sisto discussing possible crossover ideas in a recent interview.
While McMahon's departure may be sad news for some FBI: Most Wanted fans, McDermott's new role may be something to look forward to. The actor seems to be someone Wolf enjoys working with, as his character in Organized Crime was given a recurring role following a positive reception. With the character set to debut in April, audiences will at least have a glimpse of McDermott's character before he fully assumes the lead role in possible future seasons.
