3 NCIS Stars We Probably Won't Be Seeing Next Season
The franchise's biggest stars won't make a come-back in season 21 for different reasons.
CBS's flagship procedural drama, NCIS, has become a cornerstone of American television. It has aired for over two decades, cementing its place as one of the longest-running shows of its kind. Over the years, it has produced an impressive twenty seasons, spawned two successful spin-offs – NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: New Orleans – and shows no signs of slowing down.
Season 21 of NCIS was given the green light in February, which means it has likely been in production since then. However, the ongoing WGA-SAG-AFTRA strike has put the latest season at risk of being delayed and possibly shortened. To make matters worse, we won't see these three stars of NCIS even if the series returns to the screen in September.
3. Emily Wickersham as Eleanor Bishop
Making her debut only in season 11, this actress quickly captured the hearts and minds of fans, becoming one of the central characters of NCIS. Wickersham portrayed Special Agent E. Bishop from seasons 11 to 18, leaving viewers stunned by her unexpected departure at the end of season 18.
While season 21 might still feature her in a guest role, this becomes less likely if the upcoming instalment is shortened due to the strike.
2. Michael Weatherly as Anthony DiNozzo
Weatherly was a staple of NCIS from the inaugural season until his departure in 2016. Given that his character remains alive and retains numerous ties to NCIS, a guest appearance by Weatherly would make perfect sense. The actor has even hinted at a possible return multiple times but hasn't followed through. Given this history, his reprisal of Tony's role in season 21 seems improbable.
1. Mark Harmon as Leroy Jethro Gibbs
Arguably the face of the franchise, Harmon has been a fixture since the show's inception, only to subtly bow out after episode 4 of season 19. Intriguingly, Gibbs wasn't written off and continued to be mentioned by other characters throughout the following seasons, suggesting a potential cameo in NCIS's twenty-first season.
However, Harmon has expressed a reluctance to return to the role he played for an incredible nineteen years. And while he continues to serve as an executive producer on NCIS, his on-screen appearance in season 21 seems unlikely.