Tom Ellis Loses His British Accent for CIA Role—Is the FBI Spinoff Now Just More of the Same?

The details about the FBI’s offshoot, the CIA, added intrigue to the show, but there’s one adjustment that lessens the anticipation for Tom Ellis’ new character in Dick Wolf’s universe. It was announced in April 2025 that Ellis would star in the FBI spinoff, portraying Hart Hoxton, a charismatic, rule-bending, unpredictable CIA operative who stands in stark contrast to his FBI partner. However, this character is not as exciting as initially expected.

Selecting Ellis as the leading character for the CIA show continues a pattern in Wolf’s productions, as the actor is well-known to many audiences due to his role as Lucifer Morningstar in Lucifer, a series that garnered such a dedicated fanbase that it was revived on Netflix following its cancellation by Fox. This, however, brings up an intriguing question about what accent Hoxton will adopt in the CIA show.

Tom Ellis’ Hart Hoxton Is An American With No Accent In FBI: CIA

This Makes Hoxton Much Different From Ellis’s Previous Roles

Ellis recently shared details about the FBI’s upcoming spinoff series, CIA, and revealed that Hoxton uses cunning, dishonesty, and deceit to achieve his goals. This ambiguous moral compass mirrors Lucifer’s main character in some ways, but there will be a key difference – since Hoxton is an American character, Ellis will adopt an American accent for the role.

In a notable shift, the actor who portrayed Lucifer, although his dialogue was distinctly different, also assumed various characters with a British accent, such as the particularly sinister Oliver in season 2 of “Tell Me Lies.” It’s worth noting that being an American actor like Hart Hoxton might restrict Ellis from adopting a British accent, thus setting him apart from other roles he has taken on.

Why Hoxton Being Another American Leading Character In The FBI Universe Is Less Exciting

It Potentially Doesn’t Differentiate Too Much From Other Characters In The Franchise

In the fictional world of the FBI, where characters are predominantly from law enforcement agencies, it’s rare for a non-American to head the FBI spinoff CIA. However, Hoxton’s character could have been written with an explanation for his British accent, perhaps through an intriguing past or dual citizenship if they chose to explore that angle in the CIA series.

Given that Hart Hoxton’s background remains largely mysterious due to his need to find common ground with an FBI agent whose work style contrasts sharply with his own, his propensity for bending rules, and his nationality being American, it would be hasty to consider his past as straightforward. Introducing a British accent could have added an intriguing layer to the character.

Ellis Shouldn’t Have A Problem Not Doing An Accent In FBI: CIA

Ellis Briefly Did An American Accent In Lucifer Too, When Playing Michael

In the show Lucifer, Ellis’ distinct British accent added a unique touch to the character, yet he skillfully adopted an American accent as well. Interestingly, aside from portraying Lucifer, Ellis also played Michael, Lucifer’s evil brother from season 5, who spoke with an American accent. This was convincing enough that his original nationality couldn’t be determined – quite fitting for their roles as angels.

Viewers of Lucifer found Michael’s accent confusing because it was neither easily identifiable nor typical of a recognizable American accent, but rather seemed like a blend of various accents. However, Ellis demonstrated a particular devotion to accents when developing his portrayal of Lucifer Morningstar. This dedication could potentially be beneficial for CIA, as Ellis may apply this skill to bring authenticity to Hoxton’s story.

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2025-07-05 22:27