The Fate of Titus Welliver’s ‘The Equalizer’ Spin-Off Has Been Decided, Mothership Show’s Future Remains Uncertain

It’s a no-go for The Equalizer universe expansion. CBS has officially decided not to move forward with the proposed spinoff starring Titus Welliver and Juani Feliz, Deadline has confirmed this morning. The potential offshoot was quietly in development and launched via a backdoor pilot that aired as The Equalizer Season 5, Episode 16 (“Sins of the Father”) on Sunday, April 20. The episode introduced Welliver as Elijah Reed, a former elite CIA operative with a dark past, and Feliz as his daughter Samantha, a highly skilled weapons expert and martial artist raised in the shadows of espionage. Despite strong fan curiosity about the role — especially following Welliver’s high-profile run in Bosch — CBS has opted not to proceed. The decision marks the end of the road for the final pilot on the network’s 2025 slate whose future had not yet been determined.

And now the speculation can perhaps begin — will Amazon reverse their decision to cancel Bosch: Legacy from Prime Video and bring it back, now that Welliver has been freed up for the time being? It’s certainly something that the actor himself would be keen on doing, as his numerous interviews prior to the conclusion of Legacy can attest to. The rejection of the spin-off, which was largely under the radar throughout its development, is the latest in a round of difficult decisions made. CBS also axed both FBI spinoffs (Most Wanted and International) and passed on multiple other comedy pilots, including Zarna and the proposed spin-off from The Neighborhood.

What About ‘The Equalizer’s Main Series?

That leaves the Queen Latifah-led flagship series, The Equalizer, in a precarious position. The show — which reimagines the classic crime procedural with Latifah as ex-CIA agent turned vigilante Robyn McCall — is currently the only remaining CBS scripted title yet to learn its fate for the 2025–2026 season. Per Deadline, there’s still a 50/50 shot that The Equalizer returns for a sixth and final season, possibly consisting of 13 episodes. Talks between CBS and producing studio Universal Television are ongoing. Encouragingly, Queen Latifah is said to have agreed to “concessions” that could improve the odds of renewal.

But for Welliver, who spoke just recently about his role in the series, it’s another disappointment following the cancellation of Bosch: Legacy. What his next moves are remain to be seen.

The Equalizer airs on CBS on Sundays at 10 PM ET.