Michael Weatherly Returns to NCIS for Season 24 After Tony & Ziva Spinoff Cancellation

Michael Weatherly will reprise his role as Tony DiNozzo in NCIS Season 24, returning to the main series for a season-long arc following the cancellation of NCIS: Tony & Ziva after one season on Paramount+. CBS has not yet clarified whether Cote de Pablo will also return as Ziva David or how the network plans to address the spinoff's storyline.

The Return and the Uncertainty

Weatherly's comeback arrives six months after the Paramount+ spinoff concluded its 10-episode run. The spinoff reunited the two actors and concluded with Tony and Ziva reuniting with their daughter in Paris—a happy ending that leaves questions about how the character's reappearance in the main series will unfold. Network representatives declined to comment on whether the events from the spinoff will be retained, retconned, or simply continued without further explanation.

The actor's absence from NCIS spanned more than a decade. Weatherly departed the original series in Season 13 after playing Tony DiNozzo since the show's inception. His character's exit was motivated by the discovery that he had fathered a daughter with Ziva. Both Weatherly and de Pablo made occasional guest appearances in subsequent seasons before their Paramount+ project was greenlit.

CBS's Broader Strategy

The announcement of Weatherly's return comes alongside news of NCIS expansion elsewhere. CBS has commissioned NCIS: New York, which will air on Tuesday nights at 9 p.m., positioned between the mothership series and NCIS: Origins. That new spinoff will feature LL Cool J reprising his role as Sam Hanna, a character he has played across three NCIS franchise shows. When questioned about prioritizing a new spinoff over reviving Tony & Ziva for a second season, CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach stated that bringing back the Sam Hanna character was the network's preference.

NCIS Season 24 will air Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS and stream on Paramount+. The cast includes Sean Murray, Wilmer Valderrama, Katrina Law, Brian Dietzen, Diona Reasonover, and Gary Cole. Executive producers for the season include Steven D. Binder, Mark Harmon, and Donald P. Bellisario, among others.