NCIS Officially Confirms Ziva’s Return Path

Ziva’s return path is officially cleared by NCIS. Ever since it was announced that Michael Weatherly was coming back as Tony Dinozzo Jr. in the flagship, questions quickly popped up about the fate of Cote de Pablo’s character. Both were instrumental during NCIS‘s golden years and were the original love line in the franchise, so it made sense that the public was asking if Dinozzo’s comeback meant that Ziva was also returning.

For context, both actors left NCIS around a decade ago, and while MCRT has already moved on, they are still sorely missed, especially as CBS seemed to drum up nostalgia in the procedural during the 2025-2026 TV cycle. Ziva returned to the flagship for a multi-episode arc in season 17, while Dinozzo made a surprise cameo during Ducky Mallard’s special send-off episode in season 21. They have never shared the screen in the main show, although they did have their own arc in Paramount+’s NCIS: Tony & Ziva. The spinoff was cancelled after just one cycle, but its existence sets up Ziva’s much-anticipated return to Navy Yard.

NCIS: Tony & Ziva Is Canon & Won’t Be Retconned

Paramount

Weatherly’s confirmed return with Ziva’s fate uncertain birthed theories that CBS might retcon the events of NCIS: Tony & Ziva. That way, NCIS season 24 can easily bring back Dinozzo without being plagued with questions about the whereabouts of Tali and her mother. For context, NCIS: Tony & Ziva ended with the couple finally reconciling following years of separation due to a difficult initial reunion. Considering where the spinoff left them, it was incredibly impossible that Dinozzo would willingly leave Paris and stick around in Washington DC without his partner and daughter.

The good news is that it has already been confirmed that the events of NCIS: Tony & Ziva is canon and will not be retconned moving forward. Weatherly himself announced this when asked about his upcoming NCIS season 24 return during his appearance at Comic-Con Midlands, which also featured de Pablo. Unfortunately, he didn’t reveal any additional story details about what to expect from his homecoming, but as initially reported, it will be a season-long arc, meaning he is going to be part of the storytelling for the most part of the cycle.

How NCIS: Tony & Ziva’s Events Paves The Way For Ziva’s Homecoming

As previously mentioned, it’s very difficult to believe that Dinozzo is allowing himself to be separated from his family. Either he is forced to go to MCRT and reteam with his old team for a crisis — something worse than what he had to deal with when his security firm was framed in NCIS: Tony & Ziva season 1 or his family travels to Washington DC with him. In any case, both options set up Ziva’s eventual appearance, as these routes won’t effectively work without her involvement. After everything she and Tony have gone through, breaking them again would be overkill at this point.

Granted that Ziva’s role in NCIS season 24 may not be as prominent as Dinozzo’s, but that’s a small price to pay for seeing them back in the flagship together. Beyond that, de Pablo has also had her personal comeback arc when she first resurfaced after being deemed dead for years. As long as she isn’t fully cast aside or ignored, going down this route is the best-case scenario for her and Dinozzo without compromising the main storytelling of NCIS.

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NCIS

6/10

Release Date

September 23, 2003

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  Sean Murray

  Timothy McGee

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  David McCallum

  Dr. Donald ‘Ducky’ Mallard