The character Stuart Scola, played by John Boyd (24) on CBS’s FBI, will continue solo a little longer. Lisette Olivera (Natural Treasure: Edge of History), who was brought on as a new series regular this season, will be leaving the series shortly after her debut. Deadline reports that Olivera joined season seven this past summer to play Syd Ortiz, but her role on the show will conclude after just a few episodes. Her episodes are still set to air as planned, with her first appearance slated for November 12 in episode four.
Olivera’s character, Syd Ortiz, is introduced as a Behavioral Analysis Unit agent joining the New York field office’s criminal division. Ortiz was intended to be Stuart Scola’s new partner after Katherine Renée Kane’s (FBI: Most Wanted) character, Tiffany Wallace, departed in the season premiere. With Wallace gone, Scola has been working with various temporary partners, and Ortiz will now be among them, departing after a brief stint on the team.
According to sources via Deadline, Olivera’s exit is unrelated to her performance but rather reflects how her character aligns with the show’s existing dynamics. At 25, Olivera, recognized for her role in National Treasure: Edge of History may have come across as younger than what the role of a seasoned FBI agent typically entails, which impacted the perceived authority of the character.
FBI is produced by Wolf Entertainment and Universal Television in association with CBS Studios. The executive production team features industry names like Dick Wolf (Law and Order, Chicago Fire), Mike Weiss (Chicago P.D., The Mentalist), Alex Chapple (Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, The Americans), Amanda Slater (Awake, Cruel Intentions), Rick Eid (CSI, Hostages, The Guardian) and Peter Jankowski (When You’re Strange).
Whether FBI will introduce another character as Scola’s permanent partner remains unclear, though this is a common strategy for long-running procedural dramas. Alongside Boyd, the season seven cast includes series regulars Missy Peregrym (Stick It, Rookie Blue), Zeeko Zaki (Six, 24: Legacy), Jeremy Sisto (Six Feet Under) and Alana de la Garza (CSI: Miami).