Want the ultimate guide to get all the answers for NCIS’s new season? Then continue reading to find out about all the latest developments for NCIS Season 21.
With a new year comes new challenges for the beloved special agents as they navigate the ever-changing landscape of national security threats. As tensions rise both domestically and abroad, NCIS must work tirelessly to protect the country from those who seek to do it harm, and the fans are eagerly anticipating the next chapter in the beloved crime drama series.
With each case more complex than the last, viewers can expect heart-pounding action, gripping drama, and unexpected twists that will keep them on the edge of their seats because NCIS always promises to deliver a thrilling ride that will leave fans wanting for more. If you are hoping to know what the next season has in store for fans, then we can assure you that you’re not alone!
So, get ready to embark on another unforgettable journey and learn everything about CBS’s NCIS Season 21.
NCIS Season 21: When was it renewed?
Even before the 20th season reached its final episode, the network was quick to renew NCIS for a 21st season, along with NCIS: Hawai’i for its third season, back on February 21, 2023! The series is the third-longest-running U.S. primetime drama series, only behind Law & Order: SVU and Law & Order.
After all, it has been one of the most-watched television series in the U.S., which left the questions regarding its renewal out of the box, as it was always bound to happen. Take a look at the official renewal announcement as posted on the official Twitter handle of the show with their followers, quoting, “BIG news – get ready to grab your gear, because we’ve got more work to do. #NCIS has officially been renewed for Season 21! We’ll see you there.”
🚨 BIG news – get ready to grab your gear, because we’ve got more work to do. #NCIS has officially been renewed for Season 21! We’ll see you there. pic.twitter.com/Khog7IiXY1
— NCIS (@NCIS_CBS) February 21, 2023
NCIS Season 21: What is the release date and time slot?
Much to viewers’ delight, CBS recently unveiled the 2023–2024 primetime schedule, which still seems to be going as per plan, and NCIS Season 21 is still confirmed to be part of the fall lineup, with September being the likely release window, at the same time slot every Monday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS and later on Paramount Plus. Not only that but NCIS: Hawai’i will also return for a third season, for which the release date will be announced later.
Take a look at the official 2023 fall schedule of CBS as shared on their Twitter handle and let us know in the comments which favorite shows of yours are listed in the schedule, quoting, “Check out our 2023-2024 Primetime Schedule! What show are you MOST looking forward to watching with us?”
Check out our 2023-2024 Primetime Schedule! What show are you MOST looking forward to watching with us? 📺 pic.twitter.com/1LCvz5NDs2
— CBS (@CBS) May 10, 2023
NCIS Season 21: What is the production status?
As of writing this, the filming of the new season hasn’t even begun yet, and it will take quite some time to properly schedule the production stage, which usually commences around the summer season in the month of August after the crew and cast take a short hiatus. Though the fans are optimistic that the same schedule will be followed this time around.
The reality looks a bit dull, as due to the ongoing strike, many networks have had to close their writers’ rooms for a temporary period of time until a proper resolution for the writer’s pay is made. This strike can cause a major shift in the 2023–2024 primetime schedule, and if it happens, the network will acknowledge it, leading to the new season eventually returning sometime in 2024!
We’ll just have to wait and see what the next few months have in store for us in relation to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, as right now the filming status is neither here nor there.
NCIS Season 21: Will the season’s official release get delayed?
Sadly, with the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike, which seems no way close to reaching a resolution anytime soon along with a possible SAG-AFTRA work stoppage, CBS might have to take a step back and consider replacing their entire approved fall schedule. As there is no way that the series will be able to go into production at this time around and produce new scripts on time unless the writer’s room doesn’t start resuming their work.
Right now, it increasingly appears that NCIS might just be one of the shows that are going to be pushed back in order to avoid any major hurdles in the way once the production starts. Especially after George Cheeks, President, and CEO, of CBS, and Chief Content Officer spoke about the possibility of delays in the fall 2023 lineup that didn’t factor in the potential impact of the ongoing writers’ strike during a keynote at Banff moderated by Deadline’s Peter White.
He elaborated on the revised CBS fall scheduling plans, which are expected to be officially revealed soon. “First of all, obviously it’s going to be very reality-heavy,” he said.
Moreover, George Cheeks were also asked to address the studio’s negotiations with the top Hollywood guilds and the ongoing WGA strike. He called the recently reached tentative agreement with the DGA “helpful.” Also added, “Our challenging issues are not exactly the same.” Cheeks also stated, “I still remain very hopeful that we will find compromises because it’s existential for all of us — for the studios, for the creative partners. We have got to figure this out.”
If we keep this scenario in mind, then there is a chance that the show creators may aim for the 21st season’s official release later this year or even sometime around 2024 in order to start the production process without any obstacles for the writers to begin working on it once the writer’s strike concludes. In conclusion, NCIS fans may learn more about the show’s new release date from CBS and the show’s producers in the coming days.
NCIS Season 21: What is the plot?
The official synopsis of the show follows: NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) is more than just an action drama. With liberal doses of humor, it’s a show that focuses on the sometimes complex and always amusing dynamics of a team forced to work together in high-stress situations. From murder and espionage to terrorism and stolen submarines, these special agents investigate all crimes with Navy or Marine Corps ties.
No details have been disclosed yet, so we speculate that the next season will pick up from the final episode of Season 20, “Black Sky,” which is directed by Diana Valentine and written by Brendan Fehily and David J. North.
In the episode, viewers got to see that Torres finds himself in prison as the team tries to stop an impending terror attack on U.S. soil. We expect this major cliffhanger to serve as inspiration for the upcoming season’s storyline expansion and resolution of all unanswered questions, which the fans truly want. Take a look at the official promo of the last episode to get some insight into what transpired in the NCIS Season 20 finale below:
NCIS Season 21: Who will return in the cast?
The main cast members who are expected to reprise their roles are as follows: Sean Murray as Timothy McGee, Wilmer Valderrama as Nick Torres, Katrina Law as Jessica Knight, Brian Dietzen as Dr. Jimmy Palmer, Diona Reasonover as Kasie Hines, David McCallum as Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard, Rocky Carroll as Leon Vance, Gary Cole as Alden Parker.
There can be some new additions to the cast which will be disclosed once the release dates close. The series is created by Donald P. Bellisario, and NCIS is produced by Bellisarius Productions in association with CBS Studios. Steven D. Binder, Chas. Floyd Johnson, Mark Horowitz, Mark Harmon, Scott Williams, David North, and Bellisario serve as executive producers.
NCIS Season 21: How many episodes will be there?
The next season’s official episode count may be around 21 to 22 episodes with an average duration of 39 to 44 minutes, premiering on a weekly basis. The episode count might vary if the network decides to air a shorter or longer season as a part of cost-cutting or the ongoing writers’ strike. All details on the episode titles and synopses will be released later, once the release date draws near, in order to prevent spoilers.
NCIS Season 21: Is it the last season?
Sadly, this time around, the series was renewed for just one season for the 2023–24 CBS broadcast season instead of a “multiple season order,” which isn’t that bad at all, but we can understand why it caused a bit of concern among the loyal viewers. Right now, it is safe to assume that the plans for an additional season haven’t been confirmed by the show creators, as their prime goal is the release of the next season. So, the future status of the show is at a standstill.
We assume that the crew is waiting to see how the reception of the 21st season will be before they move forward to get it renewed for another year and create new plotlines. To be honest, the overall ratings of the show are too good to let go this early on, so we think that any major network like CBS will try their best to not cancel the show anytime soon! Hence, there is a high chance that the network might renew this beloved franchise for many more years once the new season starts airing.
NCIS Season 21: Is there any new teaser or trailer?
As the production hasn’t begun, it makes it very difficult for the network to create any new promotional material. Moreover, the release date hasn’t been disclosed, leaving a lot of time for marketing to begin. We’ll have to wait for it for some time. Until then, if you haven’t been able to keep up with the special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, then watch the earlier episodes of NCIS exclusively on the CBS official website and app, depending on the user’s location.
The series is also available on Paramount Plus, FuboTV, and Netflix, along with all the prior seasons of this major franchise on the streaming platforms. The viewers can also stream the series by renting or purchasing it on Vudu, Amazon Instant Video, iTunes, and Google Play, with a vast number of membership plans. Moreover, the series is also available to watch exclusively on Pluto for free based on the viewer’s location.