NCIS Officially Confirms Ziva’s Return Path

CBS (via MovieStillsDb) Published Aug 2, 2026, 10:00 AM EDT Ana Dumaraog is a Writer and Editor at Screen Rant, where she expertly covers Network TV offerings, among other things She has spearheaded the effort to make the site an authority on broadcast shows, initially starting with The Big Bang Theory franchise, NCIS, and One Chicago before taking on the specialization in general. Ana has also covered a wide-spread of topics in the past — from franchises like, the MCU and Star Wars, to classic TV favorites, such as Frasier and MASH. Ana brings clarity and enthusiasm to every story she tackles—whether reporting on new releases or offering deep dives into fan-favorite franchises. Her coverage translates complex entertainment developments into engaging, audience-focused content. Sign in to your ScreenRant account 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. Enjoy ScreenRant's primetime coverage? Click below to sign up for my weekly Network TV newsletter (make sure to check "Network TV" in your preferences) and get the inside scoop from actors and showrunners on your favorite series. SIGN UP NOW! NCIS 6/10 Release Date September 23, 2003 Network CBS Cast Sean Murray Timothy McGee David McCallum Dr. Donald 'Ducky' Mallard NCIS is a television series that follows a team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Premiering in 2003, the show explores various cases involving Navy and Marine Corps personnel, ranging from murder and espionage to terrorism and stolen submarines.