The departure of Michael Weatherly, who portrayed Tony DiNozzo on ‘NCIS’ for 13 seasons, was a major concern for the long-running series. Weatherly’s decision to leave the show in 2016 stemmed from his desire to spend more time with his family, particularly his young children with his wife Bojana Jankovic. His exit was met with some apprehension from the show’s creators, who feared the impact of losing a key character.
The show’s JAG director and ‘NCIS’ executive producer, Mark Horowitz, expressed his initial doubt, saying, “When Michael Weatherly left, I thought, ‘We’re done. How could we go on?'” Nevertheless, the show introduced a new character, Nick Torres, portrayed by Wilmer Valderrama, to fill the void left by Weatherly’s departure. Valderrama seamlessly integrated into the cast, creating his unique persona within the series.
Former CBS president Glenn Geller acknowledged the challenges of losing a major character like DiNozzo but praised the writers for their ability to introduce new characters and develop relationships that kept the show engaging.
While Michael Weatherly moved on to star in ‘Bull’ after leaving ‘NCIS,’ and that show concluded in 2022, there has been speculation about a possible return to ‘NCIS.’ Weatherly’s cryptic social media posts in July 2023 and January 2023 hinted at exciting developments, leaving fans hopeful for his return. However, there has been no official confirmation of his return to the series, which is entering its 21st season.