The last veteran actor of NCIS leaves the series after 22 years: the creators will have to find a good reason to bring him back

News culture The last veteran actor of NCIS leaves the series after 22 years: the creators will have to find a good reason to bring him back

Almost everyone knows NCIS. It is difficult to miss this monument of the audiovisual world. It is one of the oldest and most popular criminal investigation series. Since its debut in 2003, it has established itself by following the professional life of a team from the United States Naval Criminal Investigative Service. After more than 22 seasons, the series has experienced many twists and turns but also numerous spin-offs in several large US cities. We therefore find NCIS : Los Angeles (2009-2023), NCIS: New Orleans (2014-2021), NCIS : Hawai (2021-2024), NCIS : Sydney (since 2023) or NCIS: Origins (since 2024) currently in broadcast.

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A departure not without emotions

After more than 21 years of existence, NCIS: Special Investigations lasts over time but the main actors are gradually leaving. But there is a departure which affected a large part of the admirers during the broadcast of the 22nd season and it is the actor who has the most appearances outside the main cast. I'm obviously talking about Tobias Fornell's FBI agent, played by Joe Spano, who was seen in 58 different episodes. He stepped in when NCIS needed help from the FBI. In number four of the final season, viewers then understand with the plot that This is the last time they will see his character..

Fans of the franchise have already asked themselves lots of questions about his role in the series, including one that comes up often: Why didn't he intervene more in NCIS? The actor answered this question on Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch, the podcast from Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo, who played DiNozzo and Ziva, respectively. “I didn't want to have to do what you were doing. Not really in terms of filming time, but in terms of what it means for your life. I could see it clearly. You were transforming and you had to stay like that to promote the show, to react to people seeing you that way. It's not really you, but you have to accept it for your work and for the public. But by doing this all the time, I think we forget a little who we are”, he says.

Another spin-off series planned for 2025?

Nothing stops the NCIS universe. The CBS channel has launched the preparation and filming of NCIS : Tony & Ziva last July. It takes place a few years after the original NCIS. Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo, who play DiNozzo and Ziva respectively, return and are now raising their daughter. But Tony's security company is targeted and they must flee across Europe to find who is coming after them. The release date is currently set for 2025 but without any other additional information.