'NCIS' shocker as Michael Weatherly returns as beloved Tony DiNozzo
'NCIS' shocker as Michael Weatherly returns as beloved Tony DiNozzo
Bryan Alexander, USA TODAYWed, July 1, 2026 at 8:00 PM UTC
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What a week for "NCIS" universe.
First, fans of the CBS mega-franchise were hit with the big news that Mark Harmon is bringing his iconic Gibbs character to every "NCIS: Origins" episode this fall.
On Wednesday, July 1, CBS announced that Michael Weatherly will return to "NCIS" as fan-favorite, one-time Special Agent Anthony "Tony" DiNozzo for this fall's 2026-2027 season. It's a reunion that's been a decade in the making.
"We've missed this one... welcome back, old friend!" the NCIS-verse Instagram account proclaimed in a July 1 post featuring a video showing the smiling, sunglass-wearing Weatherly.
"I'll see you in the fall," Weatherly added at the end.
The other big "NCIS" news: Mark Harmon's Gibbs starring in every 'NCIS: Origins' in Season 3
Weatherly became one of the defining "NCIS" stars as Tony, especially due to his complicated and long-running relationship with fellow agent Ziva David (Cote de Pablo). The duo starred in the spinoff "NCIS: Tony & Ziva," which was canceled in December after one season.
The actor introduced the character in the 2003 backdoor pilot "JAG," before helping launch "NCIS" that same year. A founding member of the team led by Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Harmon), Tony evolved from a wisecracking former Baltimore homicide detective into one of the series' most beloved characters over 13 seasons.
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In 2016, Weatherly left "NCIS" after Season 13 for his own show, "Bull." With "Bull" ending in 2022 after six seasons, and the sad demise of "Tony & Ziva" on Paramount+, it was really a matter of time before he returned to the mothership.
Weatherly made a surprise cameo appearance in the 2024 "NCIS" special episode that paid tribute to David McCallum, who was beloved on "NCIS" for his role as the eccentric chief medical examiner Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard.
"We all realized that DiNozzo was the perfect character for that last scene," episode director, writer and "NCIS" star Brian Dietzen told USA TODAY at the time. "So getting to write a Tony DiNozzo scene was an absolute treat."
CBS did not reveal plot details, describing Weatherly's return simply as a season-long arc. There are some "NCIS" job openings after director Leon Vance (Rocky Carroll) left the building, literally, for heaven, on the March 24 500th episode.
The next question: Will Ziva join Tony on 'NCIS'?
You have to ask, now that Tony is back: will Ziva return? CBS declined to comment or speculate on any potential return of Cote de Pablo, who left "NCIS" in 2013.
The main cast for "NCIS" Season 24 (2026–27) includes:
Gary Cole as Supervisory Special Agent Alden Parker
Sean Murray as Senior Special Agent Timothy McGee
Wilmer Valderrama as Special Agent Nick Torres
Katrina Law as Special Agent Jessica Knight
Brian Dietzen as Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jimmy Palmer
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michael Weatherly returns to 'NCIS' as Tony DiNozzo
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
