NCIS Season 21: Renewal, Release Date Prediction & Everything We Know
NCIS season 21 is coming to CBS, and this is everything you need to know about the NCIS characters, storylines, and more news for the new season.
- NCIS season 21 is facing a delay due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, but it has been confirmed to be renewed by CBS.
- The main cast from season 20 is expected to return for NCIS season 21, but there is uncertainty surrounding Wilmer Valderrama’s character.
- The story of NCIS season 21 is expected to continue exploring the history and relationships of the main characters, with a focus on Agent Torres and Palmer’s relationship. The specific big arcs of the season are yet to be revealed.
In 2003, the CBS military legal drama JAG aired two episodes that acted as a backdoor pilot for a spin-off series, and 20 years later, NCIS is one of the most popular scripted dramas around the world with anticipation building for NCIS season 21 news every day. NCIS is a crime procedural with a unique twist – all of its criminal investigations are related to the military. Since its debut, it’s had three successful spin-off series of its own and one that didn’t come to fruition. The first international spin-off of the show, NCIS: Sydney, begins airing in 2023 as well.
Over two decades of episodes, there have been a lot of character departures for NCIS, but NCIS season 21 is expected to see much of the main cast the audience has known for the previous two seasons remain. Storylines are expected to expand the history and relationships of those characters, some of whom have only been a part of the NCIS family for a few years. NCIS season 21 is facing a bit of a delay, but that will only lead to more fans being interested in what the show has in store for those characters.
The Latest NCIS Season 21 News
The most recent NCIS season 21 news was heartbreaking for many viewers, especially those who’ve followed the show since the beginning. Dave McCallum, who played Ducky from the very first season of NCIS back in 2003, passed away on September 25, 2023. Dave McCallum died aged 90 of natural causes, leaving behind him an astounding career dating back decades — long before his debut as Dr. Donald Mallard. McCallum was the last remaining cast member from the original NCIS lineup, albeit his role was reduced in recent seasons so he could spend more time with his family.
McCallum will be sorely missed by both fans of the show and the NCIS cast and crew. Executive producers Steven D. Binder and David North released an official statement on behalf of the show (via Deadline):
SFor over 20 years, David McCallum endeared himself to audiences around the world playing the wise, quirky, and sometimes enigmatic, Dr. Donald ‘Ducky’ Mallard. But as much as his fans may have loved him, those who worked side by side with David loved him that much more. He was a scholar and a gentleman, always gracious, a consummate professional, and never one to pass up a joke. From day one, it was an honor to work with him, and he never let us down. He was, quite simply, a legend. He was also family and will be deeply missed.
NCIS Season 21 Is Confirmed
Though NCIS season 21 has been delayed due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, it is still confirmed to be renewed by CBS. CBS announced a renewal for NCIS season 21 in February 2023 alongside a renewal announcement for NCIS: Hawai’i season 3.
NCIS Season 21 Release Date Prediction
Though NCIS season 21 was originally announced to debut in the fall, the current release date for the new NCIS season is unknown. It’s possible that the series could debut in early 2024 with a limited number of episodes if it is able to head into production in late 2023, but that seems unlikely.
Instead, it’s more likely that NCIS season 21 will be delayed until the 2024-2025 TV season, giving the writers and actors more time to get back to work after the strikes have concluded and still have a full season of the series. 2023 marks the first year the show won’t be a part of that schedule.
Where To Watch NCIS Season 21
NCIS season 21 will be available to watch live on CBS when it debuts and available to stream on Paramount+ the next day. Originally, CBS had included NCIS season 21 as part of its Monday night lineup, airing at 9 PM ahead of NCIS Hawai’i season 3. It’s not clear if the series will retain that night and time slot when it returns to television.
The first 20 seasons of NCIS, as well as the rest of the franchise, are available to watch on Paramount+ while fans wait for the debut of NCIS season 21.
NCIS Season 21 Cast
The NCIS season 21 cast is expected to stay intact from the previous season. The only cast member left in a precarious position at the end of season 20 was Wilmer Valderrama as Nick Torres. His character’s storyline was left on a cliffhanger as he faced off against someone from his past with his gun drawn. That being said, there have been no announcements of departures from the series to indicate that Valderrama won’t be returning for the NCIS season 21 cast.
The NCIS season 21 cast should include all the main cast members from season 20:
- Sean Murray as Special Agent Timothy McGee
- Katrina Law as Special Agent Jessica Knight
- Gary Cole as Supervisory Special Agent Alden Parker
- Brian Dietzen as Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jimmy Palmer
- Diona Reasonover as Forensic Specialist Kasie Hines
- Rocky Carroll as NCIS Director Leon Vance
Though Mark Harmon left the series four episodes into season 19, long-time fans are sure to be wondering if Harmon’s Gibbs could return in a guest capacity to the NCIS season 21 cast. With the possibility of a shorter season for the show and the likelihood of the season facing nearly a one-year delay, it does seem unlikely that Harmon would return for NCIS season 21. The series, however, simply had the character leave his job rather than killing him off, so it’s always possible Harmon could return to the series in the future.
Sadly, the NCIS season 21 cast will be missing a series mainstay – David McCallum as Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard, the team’s historian and go-to for expert advice. McCallum passed away in September 2023 aged 90, leaving behind him a storied career spanning decades that includes roles in shows like The Man From U.N.C.L.E., among others. McCallum played Ducky from NCIS seasons 1 through 20, and his absence from the NCIS season 21 cast will be felt.
NCIS Season 21 Crew
Though Donald P. Bellisario was the original showrunner and his production company is still involved in producing the series, he hasn’t been involved in the day-to-day production since 2007, and the NCIS Season 21 crew is expected to be largely the same as the ones that have been running the series since. Shane Brennan and Chas. Floyd Johnson have been sharing much of the showrunning duties since.
Mark Horowitz and Steven D. Binder also share producer duties and have directed and written for the show series, respectively, in the past. They will likely both be involved in the story directions for NCIS season 21 as well. No other directors or writers have been announced for the new season.
NCIS Season 21 Story
Like most crime procedurals, NCIS works on a case-of-the-week format, but it will typically include longer story arcs for the season as well, and the NCIS season 21 story should pick up a few threads from the previous season. One of those is the cliffhanger involving Agent Torres.
Torres is a character who worked deep undercover in the past and has kept a lot of information about who he is and what he’s done from the rest of the team over the years. By sending him undercover in a prison in the season 20 finale, and having him directly confront someone from his past at gunpoint, NCIS season 21 is sure to be peeling back more layers for the character.
In a storyline that is less dark than that, season 20 also saw Palmer confess that he’s in love with Knight in front of the team, so the NCIS season 21 story will likely see more development in their relationship. That likely won’t take a front seat while the team is busy on investigations, but the series has done a good job at threading relationship storylines through the larger mysteries in the past, so NCIS season 21 will be no different.
What the big arcs of NCIS season 21 are won’t be evident until the series is back in production.
