‘NCIS’ Brings Back Michael Weatherly for Season 24 Following ‘Tony & Ziva’ Cancellation

Michael Weatherly is officially coming back to NCIS, returning as Tony DiNozzo for a season-long story arc in Season 24 of the long-running CBS drama. The news was reported by Deadline, which confirmed that Weatherly will appear again as the fan-favorite character this fall.

This return comes about six months after NCIS: Tony & Ziva was canceled after just one season on Paramount+. That spin-off had brought Weatherly back together with Cote de Pablo, who played Ziva David on NCIS and was Tony’s romantic partner in the franchise. The series focused on their life after leaving NCIS, raising their daughter, and getting pulled back into dangerous situations.

According to Deadline’s reporting, CBS has not said whether Cote de Pablo will also return in Season 24 of NCIS. The network also did not confirm if the events from Tony & Ziva will be referenced or changed. That uncertainty has left fans wondering if the spin-off storyline will be continued, ignored, or rewritten.

Weatherly originally played Tony DiNozzo from the early seasons of NCIS after first appearing in a backdoor pilot on JAG. He remained one of the main characters for many years before leaving the show in Season 13. His return in recent years, including the Tony & Ziva spin-off, showed that the character still has a strong audience.

The canceled spin-off had followed Tony and Ziva years after Ziva was believed to be dead. The story revealed she was alive, leading to a reunion with Tony and their daughter in Paris. The show explored their attempt to live a quieter life while still dealing with threats from their past.

Even though the series had strong name recognition, NCIS: Tony & Ziva was canceled after one season. Industry reporting at the time suggested several possible reasons for the decision. One major factor was likely performance. The show premiered on Paramount+ but did not generate the level of sustained audience growth expected for a high-profile franchise spin-off.

Another issue was strategy. Paramount+ and CBS have been reshaping the NCIS franchise to focus on new directions and new characters. At the same time, the network has been investing in other spin-offs, including NCIS: Origins and the planned NCIS: New York. With limited space for multiple connected series, some projects were not renewed.

There were also production challenges. The series was built around two major lead actors with busy schedules, and high-cost location storytelling that included international settings like Paris. Streaming platforms have become more cautious about expensive shows unless they clearly deliver strong subscriber gains or long-term engagement.

Despite its cancellation, the Tony and Ziva story remains popular with fans, which likely helped open the door for Weatherly’s return to the main NCIS series. Bringing Tony back into Season 24 allows CBS to use the character without fully committing to another standalone spin-off.

According to Deadline, NCIS Season 24 will air Tuesdays at 8:00 PM ET/PT this fall on CBS and will also stream on Paramount+. The series continues to be one of the longest-running procedural dramas on television, with a rotating cast that still includes Sean Murray, Wilmer Valderrama, Katrina Law, Brian Dietzen, Diona Reasonover, and Gary Cole.

Weatherly’s return marks another shift in the franchise, which continues to balance nostalgia with new storytelling. For now, CBS has not revealed how long Tony DiNozzo will stay back in the NCIS world or what role he will play in the new season’s main storyline.

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