Michael Weatherly Opens Up About His Extended Run as NCIS’s Beloved Tony DiNozzo
Agent Tony DiNozzo, portrayed by Michael Weatherly, was a cornerstone of the NCIS team from the show’s inception, appearing in the debut episode alongside Agent Gibbs (Mark Harmon) and Donald “Ducky” Mallard (David McCallum).
His departure at the climax of season 13, leaving for Paris with his daughter Tali amid the presumed loss of Ziva David (Cote de Pablo), left fans feeling a profound sense of loss. Weatherly, in a reflective conversation with Entertainment Tonight about his exit, suggested it was a decision that had matured over time.
At 55, he humorously remarked that he might have lingered in the role longer than anticipated, saying, “The character needed to find his exit eventually. Truthfully, I should have bowed out years ago, but the joy of it all kept me around, much like that lingering party guest who can’t resist one more delve into the fridge.”
The topic of a potential return to the NCIS fold was inevitable.
Weatherly expressed an open curiosity about the future directions of the NCIS franchise and DiNozzo’s possible involvement in them, whimsically adding, “If DiNozzo gets to embark on some deep space adventure, count me in. But for now, I’m embracing some much-needed rest, with plenty of golf watching on the agenda.”
As of 2024, the tides have turned, and Weatherly is poised to re-enter the NCIS sphere, reprising his iconic role as Tony DiNozzo.
A recent announcement revealed that Weatherly, alongside Cote de Pablo, is set for a 10-episode spin-off series, tentatively dubbed NCIS Europe. Post-Paris, DiNozzo finds himself managing a security firm. However, when his enterprise faces a mysterious threat, he and Ziva find themselves evading danger once more. Who could be targeting them?
With filming scheduled to commence later this year, the eagerly anticipated series is slated for a Paramount+ release in 2025.
