Fan-favorite actor Michael Weatherly is officially heading back to the flagship CBS drama NCIS for a major season-long arc during the upcoming 24th season. Weatherly will reprise his iconic role as Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo, marking his first extended run on the original procedural series since his departure in 2016 after 13 seasons and over 300 episodes.
- A Welcome Homecoming for Tony DiNozzo
- Franchise Shifts and Expanding Universes
- Frequently Asked Questions About Michael Weatherly’s NCIS Return
- When does Michael Weatherly return to NCIS?
- What is Tony DiNozzo’s storyline in Season 24?
- Will Cote de Pablo return as Ziva David alongside Michael Weatherly?
- How long was Michael Weatherly originally on NCIS?
- What other franchise projects has Michael Weatherly worked on recently?
Production on the new season kicked off with a cast read-through. Weatherly was spotted sitting alongside returning cast members Brian Dietzen, Wilmer Valderrama, and across from longtime co-star Sean Murray. While exact plot details regarding his return remain strictly under wraps, CBS confirmed that DiNozzo reappears in Washington to expand his private security firm, Salus Mondiale. He then becomes heavily entangled in an investigation involving a high-stakes threat to the Secretary of the Navy.
A Welcome Homecoming for Tony DiNozzo
Weatherly’s return to the mothership series follows the short run of the Paramount+ spinoff series NCIS: Tony & Ziva, which aired last year and reunited him with Cote de Pablo. Although that specific spinoff was canceled after a single season, CBS is wasting no time integrating Tony back into the core universe. Showrunner Steven D. Binder highlighted how DiNozzo’s character has evolved since leaving the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. He now balances his signature quick wit with the newfound emotional depth of raising his daughter, Tali.
The current NCIS ensemble features Sean Murray as Timothy McGee, Wilmer Valderrama as Nick Torres, Brian Dietzen as Jimmy Palmer, Diona Reasonover as Kasie Hines, Katrina Law as Jessica Knight, and Gary Cole as Alden Parker. Of the current regular cast, Murray and Dietzen are the only actors whose tenure directly overlapped with Weatherly’s initial 13-year run as a series regular.
Franchise Shifts and Expanding Universes
Weatherly’s extended homecoming coincides with a wave of nostalgic casting announcements across the expansive NCIS television universe. Just a day prior to the confirmation of Weatherly’s return, CBS announced that original star Mark Harmon will also have a season-long, on-camera role as Leroy Jethro Gibbs in Season 3 of the prequel series NCIS: Origins. Meanwhile, LL Cool J’s character Sam Hanna is transitioning to the upcoming fall spinoff NCIS: New York.
Executive producers for Season 24 of NCIS include Steven D. Binder, Chas. Floyd Johnson, Mark Harmon, Scott Williams, Christopher J. Waild, Mark R. Schilz, José Clemente Hernandez, Avery C. Drewe, Marco Schnabel, and franchise creator Donald P. Bellisario. The long-running procedural is produced by CBS Studios.
Fans eager to see how DiNozzo reintegrates into the team can expect further announcements as the fall premiere date approaches. They also wait to see whether Cote de Pablo’s Ziva David might eventually make an appearance. NCIS Season 24 is slated to air Tuesday nights on CBS and will be available to stream on Paramount+.
Frequently Asked Questions About Michael Weatherly’s NCIS Return
When does Michael Weatherly return to NCIS?
Michael Weatherly returns to NCIS for a season-long arc during Season 24, which premieres in fall 2026 on CBS and streams on Paramount+.
What is Tony DiNozzo’s storyline in Season 24?
Tony DiNozzo returns to Washington, D.C., to expand his private security firm, Salus Mondiale. He then gets pulled into a dangerous investigation involving a threat directed at the Secretary of the Navy.
Will Cote de Pablo return as Ziva David alongside Michael Weatherly?
CBS has not yet confirmed whether Cote de Pablo will return alongside Weatherly for Season 24. Fans continue to speculate about Ziva’s whereabouts following the conclusion of their spinoff series.
How long was Michael Weatherly originally on NCIS?
Weatherly starred as a main cast member on the flagship NCIS series from its inception in 2003 until his departure at the end of Season 13 in 2016, appearing in over 300 episodes.
What other franchise projects has Michael Weatherly worked on recently?
Before his return to the mothership series, Weatherly starred alongside Cote de Pablo in the Paramount+ spinoff series NCIS: Tony & Ziva.
