“That’s a common perception, but the FBI actually has 93 offices in embassies and military bases around the world,” showrunner Derek Haas informs Parade.com in this exclusive interview. “The CIA is more clandestine operations and we’re more law enforcement. The FBI definitely helps partner with host countries on solving crimes.” The FBI: International team will be headquartered in Budapest and travel the world with the mission of tracking and neutralizing threats against American citizens wherever they may be. The team is composed of four members who have a variety of skills. “We didn’t want to do it where one of these was the expert at computers, and another is the expert at explosives, or whatever,” Haas says. “They’re all awesome at being FBI agents. You’ve got to be a little bit of a rebel within the FBI to get put overseas anyway, so it’s a team of rebels if that makes sense. They’re all very motivated. [Creator] Dick Wolf always said, ‘They’re more Bourne than Bond,’ so it’s less about gadgets and more about fists I would say in that regard.” In addition to the four-team members, there is also a representative from Europol, which is like the European Interpol. That rep follows them around or goes out ahead of them to lay the foundation as a liaison to whatever law enforcement agency they’re dealing with in whatever country they’re dealing with. Here are more of the details from season 1 of FBI: International straight from Haas:
When does FBI: International premiere?
FBI: International premieres Tuesday, Sept. 21 at the special time of 10 p.m. ET/PT.
What time does FBI: Internationalair?
Beginning on Sept. 28, FBI: International will air in its regular 9 p.m. ET/PT time slot.
Who’s in FBI: International cast?
There are no star names, but Haas says that is a good thing, at least his boss does, “Dick Wolf always says it’s the writing, so I’m very happy with where we’ve started, and I think the audience will like it. We’re an action-packed crime-solving show more than a procedural, where-were-you-on-the-night-of-the-23rd? kind of show.”
Luke Kleintank as Special Agent Scott Forrester
Scott is the team’s accomplished and dedicated leader, who puts his missions ahead of his personal life and is rarely seen without the team’s “secret weapon:” their trusty Schutzhund dog, Tank.
Heida Reed as Special Agent Jamie Kellett
Second in command is Special Agent Jamie Kellett, not afraid to tussle—in an alley or courtroom—and her extensive network of informants is a powerful resource.
Carter Redwood as Special Agent Andre Raines
Special Agent Andre Raines shines in the field and makes good use of his accounting background in tracking criminal enterprises moving money.
Vinessa Vidotto as Special Agent Cameron Vo
The group’s newest member is Special Agent Cameron Vo, a competitive West Point grad who excels at interrogation and strategy. Haas hints she “might be more or less running from something when she lands there.”
Christiane Paul as Special Agent Katrin Jaeger
Europol Agent Katrin Jaeger, as previously mentioned, is a key element of the mix. She is a multilinguistic liaison between the FBI Fly Team and each host country they inhabit.
Why did FBI: International add a dog as a team member?
“We thought it would be fun if Forrester had a dog that had a little history with the FBI,” Haas says. “And it was unique; you hadn’t seen it before. We do have to have a little bit of a signature from the other two shows and having a dog running around with the team we thought was cool. Dick had read this article about these Giant Schnauzers, which are police-trained dogs in Europe. So, that became the launching point and now we have Tank.”
What is season 1 of FBI: International about?
Haas says, “Whenever American interests are threatened or Americans are involved in crime, the flight team is ready in a moment’s notice to grab their go-bags and parachute figuratively into whatever situation they find themselves in. It’s a four-person team, they’re very adept at their jobs and motivated to protect American interests. Also, the setting is Europe, and they’re definitely going to be country hopping, not staying in one place.”
Where did FBI: Internationalfilm?
The series is filming in Budapest to give it a true international flavor. Haas says, “When Chicago Fire first started, there was talk about, ‘Well, ER shot in Los Angeles,’ and I’m like, ‘No, they have to get out and it’s got to look like Chicago and feel like Chicago.’ You can fake it, but I think the audience, their suspension of disbelief starts to go down or up, depending on if you’re faking Los Angeles or Montreal or whatever for Europe. So, we wanted to really shoot in Europe. When it says FBI: International in the title, we wanted it to be truly international. And I think the audience will love it because they don’t see that on TV every week."
Is there a trailer for FBI: International?
The trailer is not specifically for FBI: International, rather it is for the three-hour crossover premiere event including all three FBI series. Check it out below: Next, Chicago Fire EP Derek Haas Takes Us Inside the Romantic Minds of Firefighters Matt Casey and Kelly Severide
