What cast members are leaving FBI: Most Wanted?

FBI: Most Wanted is about to lose one of its special agents. Season 3, Episode 8 (which will air March 8) of the CBS show will be the last featuring Jess LeCroix, played for the last three seasons by Julian McMahon.

In the episode, titled "Shattered," Jess and Sarah (Jennifer Landon) are setting out on a dream vacation, while the Most Wanted team are on the hunt for an abusive boyfriend.

In the lead-up to McMahon's last episode, the former Nip/Tuck actor released a statement that revealed exactly why he is exiting the show after 40 episodes.

We also know exactly who is set to fill the place left in the team by LaCroix.

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Why Julian McMahon is leaving FBI: Most Wanted

In a statement, the actor said: "Over the past few months, the producers of FBI: Most Wanted and I have had discussions about my departure from the show in favor of additional creative pursuits and the transition of my character Jess LaCroix. These ongoing conversations have given us an opportunity to orchestrate a seamless and productive way for me to leave the show."

He added: "​​I wish the show, and its cast & crew, the greatest success in the future. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to play Jess; he is a good man."

FBI: Most Wanted creator Dick Wolf, meanwhile, reacted to the news by releasing his own statement reading: "We are saddened to see Julian leave. His portrayal of agent Jess LaCroix has been a key factor in the success of FBI: Most Wanted. We will miss him and we wish him the best in his next chapter."

The synopsis for the actor's last episode reads: "The team pursues an abusive man on the war path to find his ex-girlfriend, who is trying to escape him for good. Also, Jess and Sarah make plans to take their dream vacation together."

Asked how McMahon would be exiting the show, executive producer David Hudgins said to Deadline: "The episode is a combination of two things. It's a very intense episode about domestic violence, which is something we'd always wanted to do because it's such a huge problem in this country right now. It also ties in thematically with Jess' experience with Sarah's (Jan Landon) stalker, Hugh. We felt like that was an interesting additional layer to the episode. And then on top of that, we've got Jess and Sarah in a very good place, talking about going on the first vacation that Sarah has ever seen Jess take."

Who will replace Julian McMahon on FBI: Most Wanted?

In the coming weeks, McMahon's place will be taken by another familiar face from TV—Dylan McDermott, who has left NBC's Law & Order: Organized Crime in order to take the role.

Details of his character have not been revealed yet, but we do know that he will be joining the CBS procedural from its April 12 episode.

FBI: Most Wanted airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET / 9 p.m. CT on CBS.

After three seasons of playing Supervisory Special Agent Jess LaCroix, Julian McMahon is leaving CBS’ “FBI: Most Wanted.” The star of the “FBI” spinoff produced by Dick Wolf is scheduled to film his final episode this week, with the installment to air on March 8.

A source close to production tells Variety a new “FBI: Most Wanted” character is expected to be introduced later in the season to fill McMahon’s slot.

“Over the past few months, the producers of ‘FBI: Most Wanted’ and I have had discussions about my departure from the show in favor of additional creative pursuits and the transition of my character Jess LaCroix,” McMahon said in a statement to Variety. “These ongoing conversations have given us an opportunity to orchestrate a seamless and productive way for me to leave the show. I would like to express the gratitude and admiration I have had working with Dick Wolf and Peter Jankowski. I’m extremely proud of the work we have done together and put the development of this show, and my character Jess, at the top of my professional experience list. I wish the show, and its cast and crew, the greatest success in the future. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to play Jess; he is a good man.”

In his own statement, Wolf added: “We are saddened to see Julian leave. His portrayal of agent Jess LaCroix has been a key factor in the success of FBI: Most Wanted. We will miss him, and we wish him the best in his next chapter.”

McMahon stars on “FBI: Most Wanted” alongside Alexa Davalos as Special Agent Kristin Gaines, Roxy Sternberg as Special Agent Sheryll Barnes, Keisha Castle-Hughes as Special Agent Hana Gibson and Miguel Gomez as Special Agent Ivan Ortiz.

The “FBI” spinoff is executive produced by Wolf, David Hudgins, Arthur W. Forney and Jankowski. The series hails from Wolf Entertainment and Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with CBS Studios.

Deadline first reported that McMahon is leaving “FBI: Most Wanted.”

Although the FBI franchise on CBS is still in its early days, the three series that make up the hit franchise has already undergone so many major casting changes over the years.

Just this season, we saw several casting shakeups as beloved characters departed in often shocking manners as new faces joined the mix in recurring and series regular roles to help fill the voids left by those who left the series.

As we start to look ahead to the new seasons of CBS’s hit franchise, we’re breaking down all there is to know about the latest casting shakeups on FBI, FBI: Most Wanted, and FBI: International!

Who’s leaving FBI?

Heading into season 5, there have been no major cast departures; however, there is one cast member who will be missing in action for the first few episodes of the season. As revealed by FBI star Missy Peregrym via Instagram, her return to the series as Special Agent Maggie Bell will come a bit later than fans might have anticipated.

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While Peregrym will be returning for season 5, she’s expected to miss the first few episodes of the season as her current maternity leave will continue until September. It’s not yet known how many episodes Peregrym will miss, but fans can rest at ease in knowing she will return for season 5.

Returning in a recurring role in season 5 is Shantel VanSanten, who is expected to stick around as Special Agent Nina Chase during the early episodes of the season while Missy Peregrym is on her current maternity leave. What remains unclear is whether VanSanten will stick around once Peregrym returns.

FBI season 5 cast

Returning as part of the FBI season 5 cast are Zeeko Zaki as Special Agent Omar Adom ‘OA’ Zidan, Jeremy Sisto as  Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jubal Valentine, Alana De La Garza as Special Agent in Charge Isobel Castille, John Boyd as Special Agent Stuart Scola, Katherine Renee Turner as  Special Agent Tiffany Wallace,  Taylor Anthony Miller as Analyst Kelly Moran, James Chen as  Analyst Ian Lim and Vedette Lim as  Analyst Elise Taylor. Original star Missy Peregrym will also return as Special Agent Maggie Bell though, as we mentioned above, she’ll miss a few episodes of the season while on maternity leave.

Next: FBI: Most Wanted casting news