The official NCIS: Tony & Ziva casting update doesn't feature any additional existing NCIS characters, but there are still cast members we'd like to see in their roles alongside the titular agents. The Tony and Ziva spinoff is now filming in Europe. It was speculated that familiar faces from the NCIS shared universe could appear alongside Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo. The Anthony DiNozzo and Ziva David characters hail from the original NCIS series, in which they formed a cohort of trusted agents who, in theory, are still in contact with the former agents.
Tony and Ziva's positioning in the franchise means there's no shortage of cast members to feature in their story. However, the official Tony and Ziva casting update signaled they wouldn't be taking the opportunity to fill the regular cast with Tony and Ziva's most intimate colleagues (via Deadline.) The series has stacked its cast with fresh talent that will represent the most internationally-leaning cast of supporting characters in NCIS yet. Still, there is room for a few guest appearances. There are a few original NCIS characters who would be too perfect not to feature in the series.
Abby Sciuto
Pauley Perrette Is The Face Of The Forensic Scientist
Pauley Perrette has not returned to the NCIS franchise as the Abby Sciuto character since NCIS season 15. Still, the Tony and Ziva spinoff would be the perfect setting for her revival. The official Tony and Ziva casting update doesn't include a prominent forensic scientist, meaning that Abby Sciuto could be needed. Abby could step in and do her longtime friends and colleagues a favor. It's not out of the question that the titular characters would turn to Abby since she's the best at what she does. Of course, Pauley Perrette would have to want to return to NCIS.
Abby Sciuto actor Pauley Perrette's feud with Mark Harmon originated with a dog bite on the NCIS set.
Abby Sciuto actor Pauley Perrette claimed she would never return to the series. The show bid farewell to the actor in season 15, who left the series because of a feud with Mark Harmon. Abby's NCIS comeback is more applicable now that she doesn't have to return to work with Mark Harmon to have an NCIS comeback. Moreover, she wouldn't have to return to the same set where she felt unsafe. Even without a spot in the cast, the Tony and Ziva spinoff is still the perfect opportunity for Perrette to return to the franchise.
Jimmy Palmer
Brian Dietzen Portrays The MCRT Medical Examiner
Like Abby, Jimmy is a longtime friend of the titular NCIS: Tony & Ziva characters and is overdue for a reunion. If nothing more, Jimmy could care for Tony and Ziva during their time of need, lending support in a small guest cameo on a video call, but the casting update set Jimmy up to play a much more significant role in the new series. The official NCIS: Tony & Ziva cast does not include a medical examiner, so Jimmy Palmer could be crucial if the agents need forensic evidence analyzed or an autopsy performed.
Stream Michael Weatherly's cameo as Anthony DiNozzo alongside Brian Dietzen's Dr. Jimmy Palmer in NCIS season 21, episode 2, "The Stories We Leave Behind," on Paramount+.
Tony and Ziva could send Jimmy forensic evidence for a simple cameo or, better yet, albeit more complicated, they could appear side by side in the lab, in Europe, or in the Navy Yard. Jimmy and Tony have already had a reunion moment in 2024, and it would be great to see the characters on-screen together again. There was a Tony DiNozzo cameo in the Ducky tribute episode in NCIS season 21, episode 2, "The Stories We Leave Behind." Tony appeared to comfort Jimmy before the funeral and bid the late Dr. Mallard farewell.
Timothy McGee
Sean Muray Portrays The Senior-Most NCIS Agent
McGee has crucial technical skills that could lend to the attack on Tony's security firm. He has a Master's degree in computer forensics from MIT and is a technical mastermind. McGee's technical skills, combined with his close relationship with Tony and Ziva, make his return feel imminent. McGee worked alongside Tony and Ziva during their entire stay on NCIS. McGee officially joined the team in season 2. Ziva joined the team the following season. As such, all three agents comprised Gibbs' field team from NCIS season 3 to NCIS season 11. The spinoff could reunite Gibbs' best team.
McGee's role in NCIS: Tony & Ziva feels necessary for the Tony and Ziva story, as the narrative will revolve around a threat from an unknown source on Tony's security firm. The only reason not to include McGee would be that he is overqualified for the work and would make the investigation too straightforward. Still, the best offering for NCIS
Leroy Jethro Gibbs
Mark Harmon Portrayed The Central NCIS Agent
Ever since Mark Harmon exited NCIS in season 19, there has been hope for the character's return. Harmon was the face of the NCIS franchise for the two decades he played the Leroy Jethro Gibbs character. Harmon established a fictional version of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service as Jethro Gibbs. He fostered a skilled group of law enforcement professionals who he believed had the right skills to do the work he cared about. Tony and Ziva were undoubtedly closer to Gibbs than almost anyone, and he trusted Tony and Ziva with his life and vice versa.
Listen to Mark Harmon narrate the new NCIS : Origins spinoff series when it premieres October 14, 2024.
Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo have said the Tony and Ziva spinoff will revolve around the theme of trust. It would be the perfect stage for Mark Harmon's return. It would suggest he is helping people like his family rather than returning to NCIS to help the Washington MCRT, which he left in capable hands. Gibbs saved Ziva when she was in trouble at the beginning of seasons 4 and 7. Ziva is like a daughter to Gibbs, who he will protect at all costs, so she's the NCIS character who can pull Gibbs from retirement.
Eleanor Bishop
Emily Wickersham Portrays The NCIS Agent With An NSA Background
Eleanor Bishop has a solid connection to the couple. She took over Ziva's role after Cote de Pablo left NCIS in season 11 and worked alongside Tony for two seasons until Michael Weatherly parted ways with the series in season 13. While her time with the agents was brief, she played a critical role in their storyline and has a unique role in the NCIS universe. In NCIS season 16, episode 13, Ellie discovered that Ziva was alive. She uncovered crucial details of her whereabouts and ultimately was the first to have contact with her.
Moreover, Ellie's NSA background in NCIS could also lend itself to the attack on Tony's security firm and provide vital intelligence to his operation. While it wasn't exactly clear what Ellie was up to when she departed the NCIS series at the end of season 18, the series later revealed she was working a long-term undercover operation with Odette Malone. The storyline was ambiguous enough that there is a path for Emily Wickersham to appear with Tony and Ziva. Bishop's strengths as an NSA agent, such as counterintelligence, could strengthen Tony and Ziva's investigation in their limited-series story.
Including the original series' most prominent intelligence agent feels obvious.
It would be cool to see Bishop interacting with Julian Ovenden. The Bridgerton actor will portray Jonah in the NCIS: Tony & Ziva cast, "a former computer programmer for the NSA and now the Secretary General of Interpol." It's feasible that Wickersham's character could have an established connection to the former NSA agent. The series will also feature Nassima Benchicou from Emily in Paris as Martine. Martine is a retired French intelligence agent. With the Tony and Ziva spinoff honing in on intelligence agents such as Jonah and Martine, including the original series' most prominent intelligence agent feels obvious.
Director Leon Vance
Rocky Carroll Portrays The Current NCIS Director
While NCIS: Tony & Ziva's title makes no sense because they have no official ties to NCIS, Director Leon Vance could appear to facilitate assistance to the former NCIS agents. As NCIS director, Vance probably has more connections at higher levels than nearly anyone. Rocky Carroll's character is omnipresent as the agency's director. Therefore, it would only feel natural that he would tie into the Tony and Ziva spinoff in some way. To aid in their investigation, Vance could provide Tony and Ziva with vital connections to the CIA or FBI, agencies he works with frequently.
Rocky Carroll has appeared in most of the NCIS franchise's series, including NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans , and NCIS: Hawai'i.
Vance would appear should the agents need NCIS' support in any way. If McGee or Dr. Jimmy Palmer were to appear in the Tony and Ziva spinoff in any capacity, the request would have to go through Vance. Although sometimes Leon Vance signs off on things unofficially, it's inevitable that if one of his agents were going to help Tony and Ziva overseas, Vance would be in on it. Vance has also investigated on occasion, and seeing him travel to Europe to aid Tony and Ziva would be a refreshing narrative for a character at a mature career stage.
Ari Haswari
Rudolf Martin Portrayed The Season 1 And 2 Villain
Ari Haswai was a vital NCIS antagonist and helped tell Tony and Ziva's story from the beginning. Ari was Ziva's half-brother, but she shot him to save Gibbs' life. Ari is killed by Ziva in NCIS season 3, episode 2, "Kill Ari Part II," one of the best episodes of NCIS, but the character can still return to the franchise. Characters often appear as ghosts in NCIS so agents can reckon with their traumatic experiences in the line of fire. He could still make a guest appearance as a ghost so that Ziva can talk with her brother.
It would be ideal to tie the Ari character into Tony, Ziva, and Tali's conversations about how they can build trust as a family.
Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo teased Rudolf Martin's NCIS return to appear as the series' former villain or a new character. While she knew it was the right thing to do after discovering that Ari had betrayed Mossad, it was a painful experience for Ziva to shoot her brother. NCIS: Tony & Ziva has an opportunity to revisit that narrative. What happened with Ari indeed compromised Ziva's sense of trust, and it would be ideal to tie the Ari character into Tony, Ziva, and Tali's conversations about how they can build trust as a family.
