Michael Weatherly, a beloved figure among NCIS fans, has confessed that he almost didn’t sign on for the CBS show.
The 56-year-old actor, known for his role as Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo in NCIS and set to reprise the character in the 2025 spinoff, NCIS: Tony and Ziva, was initially hesitant about joining the cast.
He wasn’t entirely convinced about starring in the crime drama, given its origins as a JAG spinoff, which carried a certain stigma he wasn’t sure he wanted to shoulder.
Despite his reservations, Michael agreed to meet with NCIS creator Don Bellisario in Australia, a meeting that turned out to be pivotal for his career.
In an interview with The Futon Critic, Michael shared, “I was a little reluctant initially. But I went and had this dinner with Don Bellisario in Australia and his personality, his storytelling and his presence and everything kind of won me over.”
Michael Weatherly has played Tony DiNozzo for over two decades (Image: CBS via Getty Images)
He added: “I just wanted to meet him as a fan of like Magnum, P.I. And then getting into with him, I was like this could work.”
Michael decided to participate in the pilot episode and approach the show with an open mind. Fortunately, the show was a massive hit, and Michael became a significant part of the NCIS universe, reports the Mirror US.
Michael, known for his 13-season run on NCIS, left due to burnout but is making a comeback in the upcoming “NCIS: Tony and Ziva” spinoff. Fans will be thrilled as he reunites with on-screen flame Cote de Pablo, who portrays Ziva David.
The spinoff kicks off with Tony and Ziva’s Paris reunion after their surprising separation believed to have been caused by Ziva’s fabricated death — a drastic act to protect her family from a deadly enemy, Sahar. The action escalates in the new series when an attack on Tony’s security firm sends the couple fleeing with their daughter Tali in tow.
Amidst their turmoil, they strive for a stable future. Cote signaled a high-octane ride, hinting at the couple’s complex journey towards a elusive “happily ever after.”
Speaking to Variety, she elaborated on themes of trust and partnership facing the duo: “We’re trying to address the idea of trust and we’re trying to address how they move forward parenting together with this child and trying to make things work and having a lot of challenges thrown at them.”
