With cameras set to roll soon on their highly anticipated NCIS spin-off, Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo have delved into the details of NCIS: Tony & Ziva. The pair joined a large NCIS contingent at the Monte Carlo TV Festival to celebrate the franchise’s 1,000-episode milestone. Among the attendees were the mothership series’ stars Brian Dietzen and Wilmer Valderrama, who discussed the expansion of what festival posters dubbed the ‘NCISverse’.
The spin-off will follow Tony (Weatherly), Ziva (de Pablo), and their daughter Tali in Europe as they go on the run, trying to figure out who is after them. Weatherly and de Pablo refrained from revealing specific plot points but shared insights on how and why the series came about. “We wanted to take these two characters away from the Agency and put them in an international world,” de Pablo explained.
Fans frequently asked about Tony and Ziva’s fate, prompting the actors to bring their story to the screen. “We’re addressing questions about trust, moving forward, and parenting while facing numerous challenges,” de Pablo added. Weatherly emphasized that their daughter Tali will play a significant role, introducing “a new element of trouble” to the storyline. “Every choice Tony and Ziva make on their adventure has Tali at the forefront,” he said.
Initially, the plan was to shoot in Paris, but due to the upcoming Summer Olympics, Budapest will serve as a stand-in for parts of Europe, with filming set to begin in four weeks. Weatherly and de Pablo are executive producers alongside series writer and showrunner John McNamara. Weatherly highlighted the shift from the traditional NCIS format: “It’s not an evergreen procedural; it’s structured differently,” he noted, adding that McNamara’s fresh perspective is now seen as an asset in the streaming era.
Brian Dietzen and Wilmer Valderrama also expressed their excitement about the spin-off. Dietzen, who plays Dr. Jimmy Palmer, is eager to participate: “I’m so happy for Michael and Cote and think John McNamara will do a fantastic job. If they need Jimmy Palmer on a plasma screen, I’d say hell yes, I’d do that in a heartbeat.” Valderrama similarly expressed interest, suggesting his character, Nicholas Torres, could go undercover in Europe.
The NCIS: Tony & Ziva spin-off is generating buzz as it prepares to take fans on a new, thrilling international journey.
