Michael Weatherly returns to ‘NCIS’ as Tony DiNozzo

Up to date July 1, 2026, 5:45 p.m. ET

What every week for “NCIS” universe.

First, followers of the CBS mega-franchise have been hit with the large information that Mark Harmon is bringing his iconic Gibbs character to each “NCIS: Origins” episode this fall.

On Wednesday, July 1, CBS introduced that Michael Weatherly will return to “NCIS” as fan-favorite, one-time Particular Agent Anthony “Tony” DiNozzo for this fall’s 2026-2027 season. It is a reunion that is been a decade within the making.

“We have missed this one… welcome again, outdated buddy!” the NCIS-verse Instagram account proclaimed in a July 1 put up that includes a video displaying the smiling, sunglass-wearing Weatherly.

“I will see you within the fall,” Weatherly added on the finish.

Weatherly grew to become one of many defining “NCIS” stars as Tony, particularly as a result of his difficult and long-running relationship with fellow agent Ziva David (Cote de Pablo). The duo starred within the spinoff “NCIS: Tony & Ziva,” which was canceled in December after one season.

The actor launched the character within the 2003 backdoor pilot “JAG,” earlier than serving to launch “NCIS” that very same 12 months. A founding member of the group led by Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Harmon), Tony advanced from a wisecracking former Baltimore murder detective into one of many sequence’ most beloved characters over 13 seasons.

In 2016, Weatherly left “NCIS” after Season 13 for his personal present, “Bull.” With “Bull” ending in 2022 after six seasons, and the unhappy demise of “Tony & Ziva” on Paramount+, it was actually a matter of time earlier than he returned to the mothership.

Weatherly made a shock cameo look within the 2024 “NCIS” particular episode that paid tribute to David McCallum, who was beloved on “NCIS” for his function because the eccentric chief health worker Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard.

“All of us realized that DiNozzo was the right character for that final scene,” episode director, author and “NCIS” star Brian Dietzen instructed USA TODAY on the time. “So getting to write down a Tony DiNozzo scene was an absolute deal with.”

CBS didn’t reveal plot particulars, describing Weatherly’s return merely as a season-long arc. There are some “NCIS” job openings after director Leon Vance (Rocky Carroll) left the constructing, actually, for heaven, on the March 24 five hundredth episode.

The subsequent query: Will Ziva be part of Tony on ‘NCIS’?

You need to ask, now that Tony is again: will Ziva return? CBS declined to remark or speculate on any potential return of Cote de Pablo, who left “NCIS” in 2013.

The principle solid for “NCIS” Season 24 (2026–27) consists of: