NCIS star Brian Dietzen addresses the possibility of his character, Dr. Jimmy Palmer, appearing in the highly-anticipated Tony & Ziva spinoff. The original NCIS series, a procedural drama focusing on the agents of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, has been a staple on CBS since 2003. The forthcoming NCIS: Tony & Ziva will reunite agents Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) and Ziva David (Cote de Pablo) and their daughter, Tali, as the family is forced on the run after Tony’s security firm is attacked in Europe.
In an interview with TV Insider, Dietzen confirmed that he won’t be appearing in the first season of NCIS: Tony & Ziva. Dr. Jimmy Palmer has been a part of NCIS since season 1. As the team’s medical examiner, he worked closely with both agents and could be the perfect figure for a potential crossover between the original series and the spinoff. Read what he had to say below:
From what I hear, they had an absolutely wonderful time and I cannot wait to see it. And if Jimmy were able to pop up on the screen there, I would love for it to happen, but I’m afraid to say it’s not going to happen in their first season.
What This Means For The NCIS Universe
Tony & Ziva Is Keeping Its Distance From The Main Series
As of now, no cameos from the main NCIS series have been announced for Tony & Ziva. Given the premise of the spinoff, it makes sense why Tony and Ziva wouldn’t reach out to their former colleagues—being on the run after an attack on Tony’s security firm means they would want to avoid entangling anyone from their past in an international threat. This decision also allows the spinoff to establish its own identity, much like NCIS: Origins, which explores the early career of Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the 1990s.
Instead, the NCIS spinoff is set to introduce a fresh set of faces alongside Tony and Ziva. Isla Gie, known for her role in the hit Netflix series The Sandman, will portray their precocious 12-year-old daughter, Tali. Shadow and Bone alum Amita Suman is set to play Claudette, the Chief Technical Officer at Tony’s security firm. However, given the NCIS franchise’s history of crossovers, future seasons could see familiar faces—like Jimmy—joining the story, especially if NCIS: Tony & Ziva proves successful.
Our Take On Jimmy Missing Out On Tony & Ziva
Avoiding Nostalgia Could Be A Strength
For now, it seems Tony & Ziva is focusing on setting up its own story before diving deeper into the NCIS franchise. Given the high stakes of NCIS: Tony & Ziva, it makes sense that the titular characters would keep their former colleagues at a distance, including Jimmy, as the show crafts a more serialized and character-driven narrative. Fans eager for more NCIS connections may have to wait, but Tony & Ziva promises to deliver an engaging adventure in the meantime.