Michael Weatherly is returning to the role of “NCIS” fan favorite Tony DiNozzo once again. Variety has learned that Weatherly is set for a season-long arc in Season 24 of the long-running CBS series that he helped popularize.
This is now the second high-profile “NCIS” alum to return to the franchise in recent days. It was previously reported that Mark Harmon would reprise the role of Gibbs in the prequel series “NCIS: Origins.”
Weatherly originally played DiNozzo in a two-part backdoor pilot on “JAG” in 2003 before “NCIS” launched on CBS. He went on to star in “NCIS” for 13 seasons and over 300 episodes, as well as appearing as the character in multiple other shows in the franchise. He then made a cameo in Season 21 of “NCIS” before he led the Paramount+ spinoff “NCIS: Tony & Ziva” with Cote de Pablo.
Even when he left “NCIS,” Weatherly stayed in the CBS fold. He starred in the legal drama series “Bull” for six seasons from 2016-2022. His time on that show was not without controversy, however, with actress Eliza Dushku accusing Weathely of sexual harassment during her time on the set.
The current “NCIS” cast includes Sean Murray, Wilmer Valderrama, Brian Dietzen, Diona Reasonover, Katrina Law and Gary Cole. Steven D. Binder, Chas. Floyd Johnson, Mark Harmon, Scott Williams, Christopher J. Waild, Mark R. Schilz, José Clemente Hernandez, Avery C. Drewe, Marco Schnabel and Donald P. Bellisario serve as executive producers. CBS Studios produces.
The mothership show remains a cornerstone of the CBS lineup, with “NCIS” set to debut its 24th season Tuesdays this fall and “Origins” its third. Aside from those two shows, CBS also airs “NCIS: Sydney” and is currently prepping “NCIS: New York” starring LL Cool J and Scott Caan.
Past entries in the franchise include “NCIS: New Orleans,” “NCIS: Los Angeles” (in which LL Cool J also starred), “NCIS: Hawaiʻi,” and “NCIS: Tony & Ziva.”