Few TV characters can vanish for a decade and return as if they never left, but Michael Weatherly has pulled it off with Tony DiNozzo. After years away from the flagship NCIS, the fan favorite has stormed back to Washington, D.C., and landed in a role that would've seemed unthinkable when he first joined the agency. His promotion has breathed new life into CBS's long-running procedural, but it also raises a big question: how long will he stick around this time?
Showrunner Steven D. Binder has finally addressed Weatherly's future as NCIS Director Tony DiNozzo beyond Season 24, suggesting the actor could remain for a potential Season 25—though nothing is set in stone. In a chat with TV Insider, Binder explained that the creative team is taking the return one season at a time, but he's clearly loving having DiNozzo back in charge.
Will Michael Weatherly Return for 'NCIS' Season 25?
Weatherly's comeback was initially pitched as a full-season storyline, but Binder's comments hint at an open-ended arrangement. When asked if DiNozzo could keep leading the agency past the current season, the showrunner said: "We take these things one season at a time. On the other hand, you blink and it’s Season 24. So I don’t really know. Network television is a real hand-to-mouth endeavor in terms of getting these scripts on time. We’re doing 20 episodes in a season where a streamer does eight episodes in 25 months. So we’re taking it one step at a time. Certainly, it’s been really great having him in that chair, and I don’t see any reason why it should slow, but I don’t know that we’re looking quite that far yet."
That's a far cry from a definitive renewal, but it's a positive sign for fans who've been hoping DiNozzo's return isn't just a fleeting cameo. The show's current ensemble includes Sean Murray as Timothy McGee, Wilmer Valderrama as Nick Torres, Katrina Law as Jessica Knight, Brian Dietzen as Jimmy Palmer, Diona Reasonover as Kasie Hines, and Cole as Alden Parker. Meanwhile, the NCIS universe keeps expanding with NCIS: Origins, which stars Austin Stowell as a younger Gibbs and features Mark Harmon reprising his iconic role in present-day flash-forwards.
For those who've followed Weatherly's career, his return to NCIS is a major moment. He originally left the show in 2016 to headline Bull, which ran for six seasons before being canceled in 2022. Since then, fans have clamored for his comeback, and now that he's back, the question is whether he'll become a permanent fixture or just a temporary boost. Binder's comments suggest the door is wide open, but the network is playing it safe by not committing too far ahead.
If you're a fan of long-running procedurals, you might also enjoy checking out Dexter's streaming resurgence or Neve Campbell's return to the Scream franchise. Both show how beloved characters can find new life in unexpected ways.
For now, NCIS fans can rest easy knowing that Weatherly's DiNozzo isn't going anywhere anytime soon—at least not before Season 25 gets a green light. And with the show's enduring popularity, that seems more likely than not. As Binder put it, "I don’t see any reason why it should slow." That's good news for anyone who's enjoyed watching DiNozzo trade his badge for a director's chair.
