For many fans of FBI: International, there is a clear dividing line in the show’s history:

Before Scott Forrester left. After Scott Forrester left.

And at the center of that moment was actor Luke Kleintank, the original star who helped launch the series and turn the Fly Team into one of the FBI franchise’s most recognizable units.

Even years later, his departure remains one of the most talked-about stories in the show’s history.

The Man Who Led the Fly Team

When FBI: International premiered in 2021, Scott Forrester was introduced as the leader of the FBI’s elite Fly Team, responsible for protecting American citizens across Europe.

Luke Kleintank quickly became the face of the series.

Unlike many television agents, Forrester wasn’t portrayed as a larger-than-life action hero. Instead, he balanced leadership, diplomacy, intelligence, and emotional vulnerability. His complicated family history, particularly involving his mother, became one of the show’s defining long-term storylines.

For three seasons, viewers watched Scott guide the team through kidnappings, terrorist threats, international conspiracies, and countless dangerous missions.

By 2024, he had become synonymous with the show itself.

The Shock Departure

Then came the announcement that stunned fans.

In early 2024, Kleintank revealed he would be leaving FBI: International during Season 3. His reason was deeply personal: after years of filming overseas, he wanted to spend more time with his family and be present for important moments in their lives. Multiple interviews emphasized that the decision was not driven by creative conflict but by a desire for a different work-life balance. Reports noted that filming in Europe required long periods away from home.

The news immediately triggered concern among viewers.

After all, replacing the lead character of a successful procedural is never easy.

Scott Forrester’s Farewell

Rather than killing Scott off, the writers crafted an exit that allowed the character to leave on his own terms.

In his final episodes, Forrester chose to leave the Fly Team and remain in Europe to continue searching for answers connected to his family story. This gave the character a degree of closure while also leaving the door open for a future return.

That choice proved important.

Because unlike many TV exits, Scott’s story wasn’t definitively ended.

It simply moved off-screen.

Fans appreciated that decision, though many still felt the series lost a crucial part of its identity.

What Happened After the Exit?

The show moved forward by introducing Wes Mitchell, played by Jesse Lee Soffer, as the new Fly Team leader.

While many viewers eventually embraced the change, comparisons between Scott and Wes continued throughout Season 4.

Some preferred Forrester’s measured leadership style.

Others enjoyed Mitchell’s more aggressive approach.

But almost everyone agreed on one thing:

Scott Forrester’s absence was impossible to ignore.

Luke Kleintank’s Career Beyond FBI: International

Before becoming Scott Forrester, Kleintank had already built a successful television career.

Fans may recognize him from roles in:

• The Man in the High Castle
• Bones
• Pretty Little Liars
• The Young and the Restless

His work on FBI: International, however, remains the role most closely associated with him among television audiences.

Could Scott Forrester Ever Return?

As of June 2026, there has been no official announcement that Luke Kleintank will reprise Scott Forrester in any future FBI franchise project. However, because the character was never killed off and remains active within the show’s universe, fans continue to speculate about a possible guest appearance someday. There is currently no confirmed return.

The Legacy of Scott Forrester

Perhaps the most remarkable thing about Scott Forrester is how strongly the character continues to resonate with fans even after his departure.

Long after the cancellation of FBI: International, discussions about the Fly Team almost always return to him.

Was he the best leader the team ever had?

Could the show have survived longer if he had stayed?

What would a reunion between Scott Forrester and Wes Mitchell have looked like?

Those questions remain unanswered.

But one thing is certain:

Luke Kleintank didn’t just star in FBI: International.

He helped define it.

And for many fans, Scott Forrester will always be the agent who made the Fly Team feel like a family.