Tony DiNozzo, played by Michael Weatherly, was a pillar of the CBS procedural NCIS before abruptly departing after 13 seasons.

Dedicated fans of the long-running CBS procedural NCIS were saddened by the departure of Michael Weatherly, who had played Tony DiNozzo since the show’s inception. Weatherly’s DiNozzo worked as a top-ranking agent on the Major Case Response Team for boss Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon) and was an important part of NCIS’ success.

DiNozzo wasn’t always an easy character to like, but he was good at his job and grew as a person over the course of NCIS’ run.

DiNozzo became particularly close to fellow agent Ziva David (Cote de Pablo), crossing the line from professional to personal partners. Unfortunately for fans, Weatherly’s tenure on NCIS ended abruptly with the 13th season in 2015.

Weatherly’s Tony DiNozzo was a major character on NCIS, but any long-running show is bound to have some cast changes over time.

By the time Weatherly left NCIS at the end of season 13, Ziva, DiNozzo’s love interest, had already left the cast, severing a bond that fans had grown to adore. Weatherly chose to leave because he missed the onscreen chemistry between Tony and Ziva, as well as the opportunity to work with de Pablo.

Weatherly, on the other hand, had grown tired of playing his NCIS role after 13 years and was eager to work on new projects.

Weatherly compared the decision to staying too long at a party when discussing it with TV Insider. Here’s why Michael Weatherly left NCIS, what he did next, and whether Tony DiNozzo could return.

Michael Weatherly Has Left To Star In Bull

Michael Weatherly hasn’t been idle since leaving NCIS, and despite how much NCIS fans adored DiNozzo, it’s difficult to judge his departure too harshly. To those on the outside looking in, it may be difficult to sympathize with someone who grows tired of starring on a hit TV show, as Mark Harmon did before the season 19 premiere of NCIS.

Weatherly, on the other hand, is far from the first actor to grow tired of playing the same character over the course of a long franchise, and he certainly won’t be the last. Weatherly, on the other hand, was not kidding about wanting to try something new, as he quickly moved on to play the lead in CBS’ hit legal drama Bull.

Bull just ended after a six-season run, and it’s unclear what Weatherly’s plans are for his next major role. Naturally, many NCIS fans would love to see Weatherly return to the show as Tony DiNozzo, even if only for a cameo.

If he chooses to do so, the door is wide open, as “Tiva” is still together and living in Paris with their daughter, and Ziva made her NCIS return during season 17. Given his hectic schedule as the star of Bull, Weatherly is likely to take some time off before returning to the NCIS universe.

NCIS Showrunner Steven D. Binder Wants Tony DiNozzo To Return

Now that Bull has concluded, many NCIS fans are hoping that Weatherly will return to the show in his titular role – and showrunner Steven D. Binder wouldn’t mind.

The 20th season of NCIS is approaching, and fans are eagerly awaiting Weatherly’s response about a possible return as Tony DiNozzo. While the actor has yet to comment on the matter, showrunner Binder has stated that he would welcome DiNozzo’s return.

Binder expressed his admiration for the actor in an interview with TVLine, but speculated that after his run on Bull, he might take a well-deserved break. Binder responded when asked if Weatherly would return, saying.

“Wouldn’t that be fantastic? When [Michael] left NCIS, he told me, ‘I will never do network television again.’ He’d just had some children, and the hours are so long… But then this Bull thing landed in his lap, and he started working like a fiend all over again. So, putting Tony DiNozzo aside for a moment, I believe Michael Weatherly is on vacation.”

While this isn’t a confirmation that Weatherly will return, it is encouraging that NCIS showrunner Seven D. Binder is excited about the prospect of him returning.

A Tony DiNozzo comeback would always necessitate the cooperation of both the actor and the studio. Many fans are relieved that, based on Binder’s comments, the CBS half of the equation is excited about the prospect.