Summary
Connie Nielsen left FBI after the pilot episode for unknown reasons, leading to her character being replaced by Sela Ward's Dana Mosier.
Nielsen possibly left because of her busy schedule and commitments to other projects at the time when the FBI series was released.
Ward's departure from FBI was predetermined and included in the season 1 finale, where her character voluntarily resigned after taking a daring action. Ward had initially joined the show on a one-year agreement.
Following its pilot episode, the FBI made the decision to replace Connie Nielsen with Sela Ward, marking the beginning of a trend of short character arcs within the franchise. With season 6 on the horizon, the show continues to focus on the day-to-day operations of the criminal division at the New York Field Office. Nielsen's character, Ellen Solberg, served as a prominent figurehead in the division as Special Agent in Charge. However, her character did not have a planned conclusion and she abruptly departed without any explanation.
Not only was Nielsen replaced by Ward, but Ward's character, Dana Mosier, also took over Nielsen's job within the series. Prior to her role on CBS' FBI, Nielsen had an established career, including a role as a detective on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, as well as notable appearances as Hippolyta in Warner Bros.' Wonder Woman and Justice League. While Ward stayed on the show longer than Nielsen, her departure was less dramatic and more related to legal matters.
Connie Nielsen Left FBI After The Pilot For An Unspecified Reason
Although Nielsen only appeared as Ellen in the pilot episode of FBI, her departure from the show was not initially intended. For undisclosed reasons, Nielsen was replaced, resulting in the introduction of Dana, played by Ward, in the second episode of FBI. Despite Nielsen's prior involvement in co-creator Dick Wolf's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit for a span of six episodes, her exit from FBI may have been influenced by her busy schedule.
This was not confirmed by Nielsen herself, but during the time of the FBI's release, Nielsen was engaged in various other ventures. She featured in the war film The Catcher Was a Spy, initially scheduled for September 2017 but eventually delayed until January 2018. Additionally, she took on a role in the limited TV series called Liberty, which commenced filming in May 2017 (via Cineuropa). It is possible that her hectic schedule or subsequent commitments to projects like I'll Find You and I Am The Night prompted her departure from FBI prior to the pilot episode airing. Nonetheless, Nielsen is not the sole actor who made a swift exit from FBI.
Why Sela Ward Left FBI After Only One Season
Following Nielsen's departure from FBI, Ward joined the cast just under a month later, having already established a connection with Wolf through previous work in the industry (via TV Insider). Ward, a seasoned actress known for her role in CSI: NY, stepped into a similar character as Nielsen's, taking on the role of the replacement Special Agent in Charge, named Dana. However, Ward's time on FBI was relatively short-lived, as her character's exit was scripted into the season 1 finale. In this episode, Dana made the decision to resign, which came about after she took a risk by allowing Agent Maggie Bell (played by Missy Peregrym) to pursue a case that Dana had a personal connection to.
While Nielsen's departure from the show remains a mystery, Ward's reasoning for leaving was more clear-cut. According to Deadline, Ward had originally signed on to the series for a one-year contract. She took to Twitter to bid farewell and express her gratitude towards the FBI cast, crew, fans, and her role as Dana. Both Nielsen and Ward, who are highly respected actors, played strong and resilient female characters on FBI. It is uncertain whether their departures were motivated by new opportunities or the natural progression of time.
Sources: Cineuropa, TV Insider, Deadline, Twitter
