Roland Buck III and Necar Zadegan Lead the New Cast Changes at ‘FBI’ [With Photos]

The new cast of ‘FBI’ is a small group, but the changes land close to the center of the show. CBS brings the drama back in October with a team that looks a bit different, and Maggie Bell will have a new partner. That shift gives the new cast an outsized role in how the early episodes will play.

The overall picture is one of stability around a few key additions. All of the main cast members are returning, and Roland Buck III joins as Maggie’s new partner. The premiere episode also welcomes Necar Zadegan as CIA Deputy Chief of Station Nikki Reynard.

Roland Buck III

Roland Buck III plays Special Agent Isaiah Green, who becomes Maggie’s new partner as the season opens. CBS describes Maggie as struggling to bond with Green as the two begin working together, which adds a new dynamic to the field team.

The reason for the change is built into the story. Maggie’s usual partner, OA, played by Zeeko Zaki, is still undercover, so the team has to operate without him while he is away. The situation is further complicated by Isaiah’s relationship with ADIC Lawrence Green, a high ranking figure in the bureau.

Buck arrives with a solid television résumé. He appeared in 37 episodes of ‘Chicago Med’ as Noah Sexton, the brother of nurse April Sexton. He also starred alongside Adam Sandler and Chris Rock in the Netflix comedy ‘The Week Of’. His credits also include ‘American Sports Story’ in 2024, where he played Alexander Sherrod.

The photos released by the network give a first look at the pairing. One image shows Missy Peregrym as Special Agent Maggie Bell alongside Buck as Agent Isaiah Green, credited to photographer Bennett Raglin and CBS. TV Insider also built a section of its premiere gallery around meeting Maggie’s new partner.

Necar Zadegan

Zadegan is not a stranger to the franchise, but her appearance is still a notable part of the new cast. TVLine reported exclusively that Zadegan’s Nikki Reynard will join forces with the 26 Fed team in the premiere. Nikki assists the team with the investigation in that episode.

The thinking behind the role is clear from the showrunner. Mike Weiss explained that Nikki is the right contact when agents are chasing suspects with an international, intelligence or terror background, and that the show calls on her a couple of times during the season. That suggests a recurring consultant rather than a single guest turn.

This is Zadegan’s second crossover appearance on ‘FBI’ after her turn in the previous season, while John Boyd makes his first appearance on the ‘CIA’ spin-off. Boyd’s Stuart Scola crosses into the second season premiere of ‘CIA’, which is titled The Deep.

The crossover fits a stated goal. Weiss has said he wants to do as much crossover as possible between the two shows and continue showcasing an expanded Dick Wolf FBI New York universe. The premiere photos include Nikki alongside Jubal, played by Jeremy Sisto.

Shpend Xani

The premiere photographs also show Shpend Xani as Dominick Ballaci, pictured with John Boyd as Special Agent Stuart Scola and Juliana Aidén Martinez as Eva Ramos. The material released so far does not spell out how the character fits into the larger story, so any conclusions about the role would be guesswork.

What the network has shared about the case gives some context. The team finds a young traveler shot dead in a state park and learns she witnessed the execution of a person involved in a top secret government sponsored project. The premiere details do not connect Ballaci to that plot.

The creative team behind the episode is also known. Aaron Ginsburg wrote the premiere and Alex Chapple directs it. New episodes air on Mondays at 8pm ET and PT.

Around these additions, the core ensemble holds steady. The series also stars Missy Peregrym, Jeremy Sisto, Alana de la Garza, John Boyd and Juliana Aidén Martinez. With OA undercover, Isaiah Green sharing a desk with a skeptical Maggie, and Nikki Reynard promised for repeat visits, the question is which of these newcomers will end up reshaping the team, and whether you think Isaiah can earn Maggie’s trust before OA comes back in from the cold.