Why Did Emily Wickersham & Maria Bello Leave ‘NCIS’?
NCIS is one of television’s longest-running shows in history. Fans are not ever surprised when there are casting changes, they are common on long-running drama series like this one. Some characters leaving the show hurt a little more than others though. Emily Wickersham and Maria Bello have both recently announced they are leaving the show. Here’s why.
Maria Bello’s Reason For Leaving Is Pretty Straight Forward
Maria Bello has played the beloved character of Jacqueline “Jack” Sloane on NCIS for a few seasons now. The character has become a fan favorite. Many people were sad to see her leave.
There isn’t any drama around why Bello has decided to leave the show. It is pretty simple, actually. Her original contract has come to an end and Bello did not make a move to renew it. Initially, her contract covered Seasons 15 through 17. COVID-19 postponed a lot of the filming for NCIS. She agreed to stay on for a portion of Season 18 to provide her character with a proper send-off.
Credit: YouTube/NCIS
Like a lot of the other actors that have left the show in the past, Bello is working on other projects now that Sloane’s badge is officially hung up. She is working as a writer and producer on the film The Woman King. Bello is also slated to appear in Netflix’s Beef, a drama-comedy.
Why Emily Wickersham Is Leaving ‘NCIS’
Emily Wickersham’s reason for leaving the show isn’t quite as clear. She posted her announcement on Instagram in May 2021 saying, “Hangin this hat and jacket up. What a great ride it’s been. This cast, this crew, are top notch. I can’t say enough kind words about this group that I’ve had the pleasure of working with for close to 8 years now and 172 episodes later.” In the photo, she wore her NCIS jacket and hat that she was often seen wearing in the show.
She went on to say, “This business is finicky and weird and consistency is a rarity. I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of a show where I got to show up and act and laugh and learn with wonderful people. A moment in time I surely won’t forget. Thank you CBS and NCIS for including me in a part of television history. Time goes fast. Eat it up but chew slowly. ❤️”
Credit: YouTube/NCIS
Many fans debated whether she was leaving the show for another project. While there haven’t been any new shows or productions linked to her name, Wickersham announced she was pregnant last July. It is very possible she left the show to focus on being a mom.
You won’t see Wickersham or Bello on any of the newest episodes of NCIS, but you can check out this season’s cast Mondays at 9 p.m. EST on CBS.
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