NCIS: Tony & Ziva Spinoff Sparks Excitement and Speculation
A new NCIS spinoff, NCIS: Tony & Ziva, is set to reunite Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo as Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David. Slated for a streaming release on Paramount+, the series is in early development, and it’s uncertain if other familiar NCIS faces will appear. The storyline follows Tony and Ziva on the run in Europe, potentially limiting their interactions with old friends.
However, according to Deadline, at least two NCIS stars are eager to join. Brian Dietzen, who plays Dr. Jimmy Palmer, expressed his enthusiasm during a press event: “I’m so happy for Michael and Cote and think John McNamara is going to do a fantastic job for them. It sounds very atypical for NCIS as far as the storytelling because it won’t be a case-of-the-week type of show. That said, if they say, ‘Hey, we need Jimmy Palmer on a plasma screen,’ I’d say hell yes, that’d be fun. I’d do that in a heartbeat.”
Wilmer Valderrama, who plays Nicholas Torres, is also keen on a European adventure: “I’ve explored so much, I have got to do a lot of good things… but I’d like to maybe have my character be undercover somewhere in Europe, to leave Washington DC and have my character embedded in Italy, France, or London.”
The spinoff series will consist of ten episodes and is one of multiple new shows from the NCIS franchise. Another series, NCIS: Origins, is in the works for a Fall 2024 release on CBS. Meanwhile, the main NCIS show is moving forward with Season 22, and NCIS: Sydney has been renewed for Season 2. However, NCIS: Hawai’i was canceled after three seasons.
2024: A Mixed Year for the NCIS Franchise
2024 has been a good year for the NCIS franchise… for the most part. The flagship show was renewed for Season 22, NCIS: Sydney was renewed for Season 2, and two new spinoffs are on the way: the prequel NCIS: Origins, which will debut on CBS sometime in 2024, and NCIS: Tony & Ziva, exclusive to Paramount+. However, in a case of bad news, NCIS: Hawai’i was canceled after three seasons.
Some may wonder why NCIS: Hawai’i was axed while Sydney was renewed. The NCIS franchise has always been popular in Australia. Dan Monaghan, Senior Vice President Content & Programming at Paramount ANZ, mentioned that the idea of an NCIS set in Australia had been discussed for a long time before Sydney became a reality. CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach noted that Sydney strengthened the “global power of the NCIS franchise,” indicating that it attracted a larger international audience compared to Hawai’i.
Budget considerations also played a role. NCIS: Hawai’i was reportedly more expensive to produce. Although producers agreed to budget cuts for a potential fourth season, CBS ultimately decided to cancel the show. Despite Hawai’i and Sydney having similar ratings, the cost-effectiveness and international appeal of Sydney led to its renewal.
Fans and cast members of NCIS: Hawai’i expressed disappointment over the cancellation. Ernie Malik pointed out that the show ranked No. 16 in total viewers for the 2023-2024 TV season.
As of now, none of the NCIS shows, both established and upcoming, have set premiere dates. Stay tuned for updates on their progress and catch all the franchise’s offerings on Paramount+.