She could’ve had two iconic shows under her belt by now, but opted for just one.
Launched back in 2003, CBS’s long-standing police procedural giant, NCIS, never really followed the typical trend of casting big Hollywood stars. Instead, it selected relatively unknown actors at the time, who were then catapulted to international fame. However, the future franchise once almost deviated from this path when the crew seriously considered offering a major role to an actress who had already made waves in another big series of the 2000s. Reflecting on NCIS’s creation history, the show’s team briefly addressed the rumor about Jennifer Aniston’s interest in one of the lead roles. Still filming Friends at the time, Aniston was nonetheless considered for the role of Caitlin Todd, which eventually went to Sasha Alexander.
According to NCIS executive producer Charles Floyd Johnson, “Jennifer Aniston was available at the time, and her name was floated.” Susan Bluestein, NCIS casting director, was quick to intervene, saying that she didn’t recall ever seriously considering Jennifer Aniston, though she admitted that the actress “could very well have been a name that we discussed.”
Ultimately, Sasha Alexander landed the role of Caitlin Todd but left the show after the second season due to her tight schedule. This prompted the series’ creators to write Caitlin off by having her shot dead during a mission in the season 2 finale. Her death shocked fans and the rest of the NCIS characters, who spent the following season mourning their fallen colleague.
Now that it’s known Jennifer Aniston was a contender for the role, fans can only speculate how her casting might have altered the show’s trajectory. If Aniston had been available for more than two seasons, it’s conceivable that Caitlin’s storyline could have been expanded. Sasha Alexander’s departure led to the introduction of Ziva David, a development that might have been delayed or even prevented had Aniston been cast.
