NCIS: Tony & Ziva‘s story will officially continue thanks to CBS. Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo’s reprisal of their iconic star-crossed lovers characters was one of the most anticipated shows of the 2025-2026 TV cycle. It marked the first time that the NCIS franchise branched out of the network TV grid, as NCIS: Tony & Ziva was released on streaming via Paramount+. Unfortunately, after just one season, it was already canceled.
In NCIS: Tony & Ziva‘s story, Weatherly and de Pablo’s characters were in the present time, co-parenting to Tali in Paris — far removed from their action-packed lives as MCRT agents under Leroy Jethro Gibbs. The peace that they were leading was disrupted by a mysterious incident in Tony’s security firm that puts their lives, including their daughter’s, in danger. The pair’s popularity and the clear set-up for season 2 have made its cancelation more frustrating, but an unexpected CBS announcement allows the network to continue NCIS: Tony & Ziva in the best way, given the circumstances.
Tony’s Return In NCIS Effectively Continues His & Ziva’s Story
On the heels of Eric Christian Olsen joining NCIS: Origins as a producer and Mark Harmon’s season-long arc as old Gibbs in the prequel, the flagship announced that Weatherly is also returning for a sizable role. Specific plot details are still scant at the moment about his comeback, which has understandably drawn a lot of questions from viewers. Regardless, however, of what brings him back to DMV for a longer partnership with NCIS, the fact of the matter is that his return allows CBS to continue NCIS: Tony & Ziva‘s story through him. Aside from the reason for his homecoming, updates about how Tali and Ziva are doing are also imminent.
In an ideal world, NCIS: Tony & Ziva’s story will continue via a second season. That said, considering Paramount+’s cancelation of the series, this is the best-case scenario for learning more about what happens to the couple. Obviously, it’s uncertain how much NCIS season 24 will delve into the events of their spinoff, considering that it also has its own storytelling to focus on, but the chances of it totally ignoring their Europe-set narrative are very slim to none. This paves the way for officially sharing new information about Tony, Ziva, and Tali’s life after the crisis in his security firm.
Will Ziva & Tali Also Return In NCIS Season 24?
Unfortunately, the possibility of NCIS: Tony & Ziva coming back is dead, at least for now. However, what will make Weatherly’s return in NCIS season 24 better is seeing de Pablo also come back. When asked about the matter upon the confirmation of Tony’s return, CBS declined to comment, which is better than a straightforward no. There are a few reasons for this answer. Firstly, they are still negotiating with de Pablo’s camp about the terms of her return. Secondly, they want to keep Ziva’s appearance a secret for now, setting it up as a surprise.
NCIS’s Divisive New Series Gets Worse With 14-Season Veteran Comeback
NCIS is bringing back a 14-season franchise veteran for a new role, but it indirectly makes its already divisive new spinoff somehow worse.
While both Weatherly and de Pablo have both returned to NCIS since their respective exits, they did so separately. So before NCIS: Tony & Ziva, they hadn’t shared the screen for about a decade. The hope is to see them finally come back as a proper couple in the very place that they first fell in love with, but the challenge would be to balance NCIS season 24‘s story in a way that they won’t overshadow the flagship’s own stories. In any case, this is definitely an interesting time in the show’s history.
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