FBIseason 7 has cast aS.W.A.T.star as Special Agent Scola’s (John Boyd) new partner. Katherine Renee Kane, who played Scola’s previous partner Tiffany Wallace, departed the series in theFBIseason 7premiere. While Lisette Olivera (National Treasure: Edge of History) was initially cast as Scola’s new partner, portraying Behavioral Analysis Unit Agent Syd Ortiz, her time on the show was short-lived, as she was reportedly deemed to be too young for the role in the hit police procedural. Now, the Dick Wolf show is mining the cast of another popular CBS procedural.
PerDeadline,Emily Alabi will play a new agent expected to partner with Agent Scola. While Alabi’s role inFBIis currently set to be recurring, there is potential for her to become a series regular inseason 8, especially if she can become the proper strong counterpart that the quick-witted Scola (who has been on the team since season 2) needs in order to match his intensity and complement his investigative style. Alabi previously played the recurring role of Olivia Navarro, a war correspondent and love interest for Victor Tan (David Lim), on three episodes ofS.W.A.T.throughout 2024.
What Alabi’s Casting Means For FBI Season 7
She Fills An Important Role In The FBI Lineup
The departure of Kane’s Special Agent Tiffany has left a noticeable void onFBI. Her abrupt exit marked the end of a strong partnership with Boyd’s Special Agent Scola, a dynamic that had been a core part of the series since season 3. It seems clear that, despite the swift departure ofLisette Olivera’s Syd Ortiz, the producers of the show are searching for a perfect replacement for Tiffany and likely will not stop trying until they find a perfect match.FBIdeciding to pivot to a more seasoned characterpaved the way for Alabi’s casting.
Katherine Renee Kane leftFBIafter four seasons due to an interest in pursuing other creative endeavors outside of the long-running procedural.
Alabi’s background in the action-driven series ensures she’ll bring a vibrant energy totheFBIcast. Best known for her recurring appearances onS.W.A.T.season 8 andFBI: Internationalseason 3 (as Natalie Rivers),Alabi is no stranger to the high-stakes drama and intensity that defines the CBS procedural universe. WithFBIalready renewed for two additional seasons, her recurring role offers the opportunity to become a permanent member of the Dick Wolf-created universe as theFBIseries strives to rebuild stability within its core team.
Where Else You Have Seen Emily Alabi
She Has Worked Both On And Off Camera
In addition to her prior work on television procedurals, Alabi has had experience in various sectors of the entertainment industry for more than a decade and a half.She began her career as a choreographer and dancer, choreographing for the 2014 Jon Favreau movieChefand dancing in projects as varied as the Oscars,Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide, andJane the Virgin. She began to take on more onscreen acting roles in the mid-2010s, with one of her pivotal appearances coming when she played an unnamed Skinwalker in four episodes ofTeen Wolf, combining her movement and acting skills.
Emily Alabi was one of the dancers in the “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” performance at the 94th Academy Awards in 2022, which celebrated the popularity of theEncantosong in spite of the fact that it was not nominated.
Alabi followed her 2016Teen Wolfrole with a one-episode role onNCIS,cementing her status as a frequent television guest star and recurring performer. Although she has appeared in the TV moviesThe Christmas EditionandBlending Christmas, she has primarily found work in episodic television. This includes appearing in episodes ofThe Rookie,Found, andRunaways, with her biggest roles prior toFBIbeing a pair of six-episode stints on Paramount+‘sJoe Pickettand theMagnum P.I.reboot.
Our Take On Emily Alabi Joining FBI
She’s A Promising Counterpart To Agent Scola
Alabi’s casting as Scola’s new partner is a smart move to restore balance toFBI. Her background in police procedural series ensuresthe actor will bring the right physicality and credibility to the FBI’s New York field office. Finding a replacement for Tiffany has been no easy task, but Alabi’s potential to become a series regular demonstrates the show’s commitment to long-term chemistry. WithFBIalready renewed through season 9, Alabi’s addition promises a fresh and dynamic front against the city’s most formidable threats to come.
Elsewhere onScreenRant, find outwhy there is no newFBIthis week, in addition to information onhow to catch new episodes of the spinoff showsInternationalandMost Wanted.
WhileKane left the show to spread her wings elsewhere, read more about the in-universe reasonswhy Tiffany leftFBIhere.
Readers can also dig deeper intoTiffany’sFBIreplacementhere, andhow the original plan failed to work outeven before it started.
S.W.A.T.season 7 airs on CBS on Fridays at 10:00 p.m. ET.
FBI
Cast
FBI is a procedural drama that explores the workings of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New York office as dedicated agents tackle high-stakes cases involving terrorism, organized crime, and various formidable threats.
