NCIS: Tony & Ziva Spin-Off Explores Trust and Family Dynamics
NCIS star Michael Weatherly has confirmed that a third character will play a central role in the upcoming spin-off series, NCIS: Tony & Ziva. The series will focus on Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David as they raise their daughter, Tali, in Paris. Set against the backdrop of Tony’s security company being attacked, the family embarks on a journey across Europe, balancing their family life with uncovering the identity of their assailants.
While the title of the series refers to Tony and Ziva, Weatherly revealed at a Monte-Carlo press event that Tali will be considered the third central character. He emphasized the complexity Tali faces upon discovering her mother’s unexpected survival and absence from her life.
“When you think about Tali, who is really the third character in Tony & Ziva, the idea for her to think that her mother was dead, and then her mother is alive, but was running around the world and didn’t come home to protect her,” Weatherly explained (via Variety). “Trust doesn’t mean truth or honesty. Just because I’m telling you the truth doesn’t mean you can trust me.”
He highlighted the familial tensions that arise as Tali confronts the discrepancies in the story told to her. This storyline, Weatherly noted, explores fundamental themes of trust and honesty within the context of family dynamics.
Cote de Pablo, who returned to NCIS as a guest star in the 17th season, shared her excitement about revisiting her role alongside Weatherly after more than a decade apart. She emphasized the series’ exploration of trust and its impact on Tony and Ziva’s relationship as they navigate co-parenting challenges.
“The idea of trust, and the idea of how this relationship moves forward is something that was intriguing to us as actors,” de Pablo said. “We’re trying to address the idea of trust and we’re trying to address how they move forward parenting together with this child and trying to make things work and having a lot of challenges thrown at them.”
NCIS: Tony & Ziva does not yet have a confirmed release date, but anticipation is high for fans eager to see the beloved characters reunited on-screen in this new chapter of their story.