The Shocking End: 5 Major Twists From The FBI: Most Wanted Series Finale And Cancellation After Season 6

The curtain has officially closed on the Fugitive Task Force. After six intense seasons of tracking down the nation's most dangerous criminals, CBS's FBI: Most Wanted aired its series finale in May 2025, following the network's surprising announcement of its cancellation in March 2025. This decision, which also affected its sister show FBI: International, sent shockwaves through the dedicated fanbase of the Dick Wolf procedural universe, especially since the main FBI series received a multi-year renewal.

This article dives deep into the final, explosive season, the major character departures—including the emotional retirement of Supervisory Special Agent Remy Scott—and the significant, tragic cast news that defined the show's run. From a shocking promotion to a dramatic retirement, the series finale provided a definitive, albeit unexpected, sense of closure for the beloved Fugitive Task Force team.

The Final Fugitive Task Force: Full Cast and Character Profiles (Season 6)

The sixth and final season saw a tight-knit core team led by a charismatic new figure, who himself made a major career move in the final episode. The show has been marked by significant cast turnover since its inception, making the final lineup one of the most stable in its history.

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• Dylan McDermott as Supervisory Special Agent Remy Scott: Scott took over as Team Leader in Season 3 following the departure of Jess LaCroix. He is known for his empathetic, yet intense, approach to fugitive apprehension and his personal quest for justice following his brother's murder. He retired from the Fugitive Task Force in the series finale.
• Roxy Sternberg as Special Agent Sheryll Barnes: An original cast member, Barnes is the team's second-in-command, a former NYPD detective, and a highly skilled agent. Her personal life, including her relationship with her ex-wife and children, was a recurring theme. She was promoted to Team Leader in the series finale.
• Shantel VanSanten as Special Agent Nina Chase: Chase joined the Fugitive Task Force after being introduced on the main FBI series. She is in a relationship with Special Agent Stuart Scola, and the series finale revealed a major personal development for her.
• Keisha Castle-Hughes as Special Agent Hana Gibson: Another original cast member, Hana is the team's indispensable intelligence analyst, responsible for quickly tracking fugitives using cutting-edge technology. She remained with the Task Force.
• Julian McMahon as Supervisory Special Agent Jess LaCroix (Former Lead): The original Team Leader, LaCroix left the show in Season 3 to pursue other opportunities, with his character tragically killed in the line of duty. McMahon's passing in July added a layer of poignancy to the show's history.

5 Shocking Twists That Defined the Series Finale

The final episode, Season 6, Episode 22, was a high-stakes, closure-filled event that wrapped up the Fugitive Task Force's journey. The final case involved a convoluted plot centered on a rogue government operative group and cyber terrorism, providing a dramatic backdrop for the personal goodbyes.

1. Remy Scott’s Unexpected Retirement

After a powerful run as the team leader, Supervisory Special Agent Remy Scott, played by Dylan McDermott, chose to step away from the Fugitive Task Force. This was a significant move, as Scott was the face of the show for the latter half of its run. His retirement arc, allowing him to leave on his own terms, provided a sense of peace for a character who had carried significant personal trauma. This move leaves the door open for the character to potentially appear in other shows in the FBI universe, but his time leading the Task Force is over.

2. Sheryll Barnes is Promoted to Team Leader

In a major and satisfying twist for fans of the original cast, Special Agent Sheryll Barnes (Roxy Sternberg) was promoted to take Remy Scott's place as the new Team Leader of the Fugitive Task Force. This promotion was a powerful culmination of her journey, recognizing her years of dedication, experience as a former NYPD detective, and her deep knowledge of the team’s operations. The penultimate episode had already teased her consideration for a Washington D.C. job, making her promotion to lead the New York team a welcome surprise.

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3. The Revealed Pregnancy and Future of Nina Chase

The finale delivered a heartwarming personal development by confirming a pregnancy. While the details were kept tight, it's understood that Special Agent Nina Chase's relationship with Special Agent Stuart Scola from the main FBI series was the focus. This revelation provided a hopeful personal future for one of the Task Force members, emphasizing that life continues beyond the intense cases.

4. The Tragic Passing of Original Star Julian McMahon

While not a plot point in the finale, the real-life tragedy of original lead actor Julian McMahon (Jess LaCroix) casts a long shadow over the series' conclusion. McMahon, who left the show in Season 3, passed away in July from lung metastasis due to head and neck metastatic cancer. His death was a profound loss to the FBI franchise and the larger television community, reminding fans of the show's roots and the beloved character he created.

5. The Door Remains Open for Crossovers

Despite the cancellation, the series finale was carefully written to ensure that the remaining characters—Barnes, Chase, and Hana Gibson—are all still in good standing with the FBI and the Fugitive Task Force. The show's executive producer indicated that because only Remy retired, the other characters could theoretically be transferred or make guest appearances on the main FBI series or the remaining spin-off, keeping the door open for future appearances in the Dick Wolf procedural universe.

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The Legacy of the Fugitive Task Force

FBI: Most Wanted premiered in 2020 as the first spin-off of the highly successful FBI series, quickly carving out its own identity with a focus on traveling the country to hunt down the FBI’s Top 10 Most Wanted criminals. The show’s procedural format, combined with deep dives into the personal lives of agents like Jess LaCroix and Sheryll Barnes, resonated strongly with audiences.

The series consistently delivered high ratings, making its cancellation alongside FBI: International a major point of discussion among industry analysts and fans. The network's decision to focus on the main FBI series for a multi-season renewal suggests a consolidation of the franchise, but the legacy of the Fugitive Task Force—a team dedicated to bringing America's most elusive criminals to justice—will endure. The final season’s closure, particularly the promotion of Barnes, ensures that the spirit of the team lives on, even if the cameras have stopped rolling.

The show successfully introduced key entities and themes, including the intense world of the Fugitive Task Force, the complexities of interstate manhunts, and the use of advanced intelligence gathering. The final season's focus on cyber terrorism and rogue government agents highlighted the ever-evolving nature of criminal threats the FBI faces, providing a dramatic and current conclusion to the six-year run. Fans can continue to stream all six seasons on Paramount+ to relive the hunt.