Could Michael Weatherly Reprise Tony DiNozzo Role On ‘NCIS’?
Now that Bull is officially done, could that mean the return of Michael Weatherly as Tony DiNozzo on Season 20 of NCIS?
The 54-year-old actor left the top CBS series at the end of Season 13, before six seasons of Bull.
Is it time for DiNozzo to return?
Will Michael Weatherly Return To NCIS?
NCIS fans have been waiting for the return of Tony DiNozzo. Now that Michael Weatherly is not committed to a show, could he be returning to the top procedural?
TVLine presented that question to NCIS showrunner, Steven D. Binder. His response? “Wouldn’t That be great?”
He then explained that after Weatherly left the CBS series, he had planned to spend time with his family. However, Bull came along, and Binder revealed: “he was working like a fiend.”
That is why he doesn’t seem likely to approach Weatherly anytime soon about coming back to the series.
“I’ve known him for a while and I think he needs to chillax and go someplace tropical. I haven’t spoken to him about that but we’ve talked over the years, and that’s my guess.”
But, is that really an answer? Binder likes to keep his cards close to his chest. It is always possible that he has spoken to the NCIS alum, and may currently be creating something new for him.
Why Did Michael Weatherly Leave CBS Show?
One question NCIS fans may want to know is why Michael Weatherly left the show in the first place. Back in 2016, he told TV Insider that it was his time. The catalyst? Cote de Pablo.
The actress who portrayed Ziva David left during Season 11. Ziva and Tony battled and fell in love. They were as important as Gibbs’ rules. After her departure, Weatherly realized it was time for him to go.
“Their great dynamic, the badinage and sparring and flirting between those two characters and how they would swing from siblings to near lovers and back to buddies.
That was gone, and then I got to the point where I felt I’d stayed at the party for too long. I would look around the room and other people were really in sync and having fun. The show was a huge success, but I just suddenly realized that I probably had other things that I should be doing.”
The “other thing” was Bull, a series created by Dr. Phil, about his life before he went on to television.
However, when Cote de Pablo returned to the series for some satisfying and meaty episodes, many hoped that Weatherly could return, as well. A lot of fans have waited for a Tiva reunion.
That is still something NCIS fans are waiting for. Moreover, it seems the most likely reason that Weatherly would ever want to come back. The idea of working with Cote could be incentive enough.
Let’s hope the showrunners can make that happen.
Could Robert Wagner Return As DiNozzo’s Dad?
Although NCIS has included Robert Wagner in some episodes since Weatherly’s departure, the return of Tony could mean more of the dazzling Senior DiNozzo.
How NCIS Showrunners Want To Include Gibbs & Abby
Since DiNozzo left the team, NCIS has included missed phone calls and many DiNozzo mentions. They have done the same with Gibbs.
However, in Season 20, fans should expect some mention of Abby (Pauley Perrette).
Would you like to see Michael Weatherly reprise his role as Anthony DiNozzo? Let us know in the comments.
I would definitely love to see a Tiva episode or two on ncis. I miss these two characters so much. I haven’t watched ncis since Cote left.