Deadline reported that actor Michael Weatherly (Bull, Asteroid) will be making a comeback this fall in the new season of CBS’s NCIS as his iconic character Special Agent Anthony ‘Tony’ DiNozzo. He’ll be present for a season-long story arc in the 24th season, which is expected to air this fall.
Weatherly is a veteran member of the show, having acted in its precursor JAG’s two-episode backdoor pilot that would eventually lead to the flagship show. He acted as a main cast member until season 13 (which saw his departure in that season’s finale), later returning in spinoff show NCIS: Tony & Ziva, featuring himself and co-star Cote de Pablo (The Dovekeepers, The 33) as the title characters continuing their storyline post-main series departure. Deadline noted that CBS declined to comment on whether or not de Pablo would also join the return to NCIS or how the storyline in the main universe would proceed – including or disregarding the events of NCIS: Tony & Ziva, which Deadline added was canceled after one season at Paramount+ – continuing to stay silent on plans for the upcoming season.
Per Deadline, NCIS holds three spots in the CBS fall 2026 schedule, with the main show and NCIS: Origins on Tuesdays and the new NCIS: New York, along with the renewed-for-midseason NCIS: Sydney. In prior interview, CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach commented on the launch of the New York spinoff as opposed to the continuation of Tony & Ziva, highlighting taking the opportunity to explore the new series’ title character and former NCIS: Los Angeles Sam Hanna (LL Cool J; Mindhunters, Last Holiday).
The news of Weatherly’s return to NCIS comes six months after the cancellation of Tony & Ziva in December 2025, reports Deadline. He is preceded by Mark Harmon’s (Freakier Friday, Joey Dakota) return to the screen for NCIS: Origins, also for a season-long story arc in the show’s third season.
Per Deadline, NCIS follows a team of special agents from the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and stars Gary Cole (The West Wing, Veep), Brian Dietzen (Perception, Nowhere to Hide), Katrina Law (Arrow, Hawaii Five-0), Sean Murray (Hocus Pocus, The Random Years), Diona Reasonover (Clipped, Future Man), and Wilmer Valderrama (That ‘70s Show, Larry Crowne). As listed, executive producers for season 24 include; Donald P. Bellisario (Tales of the Gold Monkey, JAG), Steven D. Binder (The Dead Zone, The Invisible Man), Scott Williams (Brooklyn South, Third Watch), Chas. Floyd Johnson (The Rockford Files, Red Tails), José Clemente Hernandez (Cellular, City of Angels), Mark R. Schilz (The X-Files, Magnum, P.I.), Christopher J. Waild (Dog Days of Summer, Booth), Avery C. Drew (JAG, Burke’s Law), Marco Schnabel (The Librarians, The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show), and former series star Harmon.
Season 24 of NCIS will air Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m., ET/PT this fall through CBS and be available for streaming on Paramount+, reports Deadline.