John Boyd and Shantel VanSanten broke down the “most challenging” part about filming Scola and Nina’s upcoming wedding on FBI — and it didn’t have to do with picking the guest list.
“It’s something I’ve definitely never seen Nina do before,” VanSanten, who plays special agent Nina Chase, exclusively told Us Weekly of what fans can expect from the Monday, February 23, episode of the CBS drama.
She teased that when Nina returns to the show, viewers will see “an old familiar face team up with somebody I’ve never got to team up with before” as Nina will be partnered with special agent Maggie Bell (Missy Peregrym) in a rare move.
Boyd — who plays Nina’s longtime boyfriend and special agent Stuart Scola — noted that when the ladies get together they’ll be “dressed to the nines.”
John Boyd, Shantel VanSanten. Bennett Raglin/CBS
“Yes, which was its own incredible feat of towering in heels and fighting crime,” VanSanten, 40, chimed in, confessing to Us that it wasn’t easy wearing heels and a wedding guest gown for some of the more extreme scenes.
During the upcoming “Confetti” episode, Nina works alongside Scola and his team after an undercover operation she was working on goes sideways. After flipping their only witness, Nina and Maggie have to go back undercover at a cartel wedding, according to the logline. “The aftermath leads Nina and Scola to realize they are ready to tie the knot,” the network adds.
“I walked on to that set because I was in a scene after, and they’re just talking about, ‘Where does the gun come from? I have this done, but where would, where would the gun have been?’” Boyd, 44, recalled to Us of watching VanSanten and Peregrym, 43, film the undercover scenes in their unusual attire.
Shantel VanSanten, Missy Peregrym. Bennett Raglin/CBS
VanSanten revealed, “There was lots to figure out that was so different than ever before.”
The actress — who was part of spinoff FBI: Most Wanted after being introduced during season 4 of FBI — confirmed to Us that the heels were the hardest part to work through during the midseason premiere.
“It’s something else to do stunts on carpet and stairs and linoleum floor. You don’t really, truly, for lack of better words, have your footing. It’s not the same thing,” VanSanten explained. “So that was [challenging], but, you know, it’s, it also was so special to get to work with [Missy] because she’s so experienced and has been doing this show for so long.”
Shantel VanSanten, John Boyd. Bennett Raglin/CBS
VanSanten called her onscreen partnership with Peregrym, “Really fun,” but noted it’s not the biggest moment of joy fans will witness.
She teased that the episode “ends in a light, wonderful, jovial way that not all the episodes really get to.”
VanSanten joked, “There’s weddings within weddings,” referring to Nina and Scola finally getting hitched after welcoming their son, Dougie, during season 5 of FBI: Most Wanted.
“When Most Wanted ended, that was the biggest bummer for me, is that I don’t know if I felt like the completion or like this final moment between them,” VanSanten told Us, noting that Nina and Scola were living together when the spinoff came to an end in 2025.
John Boyd, Shantel VanSanten. Bennett Raglin/CBS
She noted that the relationship between the crossover TV couple was “such an anchor,” so it didn’t feel like she had “closed that chapter” when FBI: Most Wanted wrapped.
“When this got brought up, it was like, ‘Well, but Nina doesn’t ever want to get married.’ Then you read the episode, and it’s like, ‘It’s OK to change your mind,’” VanSanten gushed. “I think that it was really special.”
The actress played coy about how the proposal transpires and how the wedding plays out on screen, but she did say that for the couple “it was just simple and about their family.”
VanSanten added that viewers won’t see Nina’s extended family on the big day, but that’s OK. “It was perfect,” she said.
FBI returns on CBS Monday, February 23, at 9 p.m. ET.
