Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo reprise their beloved roles as Tony DiNozzo Jr. and Ziva David in first look photos for NCIS: Tony & Ziva. The NCIS universe just expanded this TV cycle with the debut of its first-ever prequel, NCIS: Origins, which tackles Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ start at NIS. The long-running CBS institution will continue its efforts in bringing back legacy characters at the forefront of its storytelling, with Weatherly and de Pablo reuniting on-screen as the star-crossed lovers, Tony and Ziva. This time, however, they’re on their own with no MCRT back- up.
Courtesy of TVLine are stills from NCIS: Tony & Ziva, which will stream on Paramount+. The project was officially announced in February 2024, with filming taking place last summer. In the show, Tony and Ziva are raising their daughter, Tali (Isla Gie), when a crisis at their security firm causes them to be on the run. Rounding out the cast are Lara Rossi as Sophie, Tali’s SAS-trained nanny; Amita Suman as Claudette, the company’s CTO; Maximilian Osinski as Boris, their resident computer hacker; and James D’Arcy as Henry, a high-ranking Interpol official.
What NCIS: Tony & Ziva Images Reveal About The New Spinoff
NCIS: Tony & Ziva Will Make The Pair’s Reunion Worth The Wait
It’s no secret that Tony and Ziva remain some of the most popular characters from NCIS, even though it has been years since they both officially left MCRT. A big part of the pair’s appeal is the chemistry between Weatherly and de Pablo, which the show used to make a compelling slow-burn romance. The problem, however, is that there was no payoff to their story in the main show, which means that the burden to make up for it is in NCIS: Tony & Ziva. Luckily, however, it seems like the Paramount+ project will be delivering on that front.
Granted that it’s already a given that they will be at the forefront of NCIS: Tony & Ziva, but these photos indicate that the procedural will fully capitalize on the couple’s chemistry.
All images are interesting, but arguably what stands out are the shots of the pair together. While de Pablo already reprised her role as Ziva several years ago, and Weatherly returned for Ducky’s NCIS season 21 send-off, their new show marks the first time that the characters will share the screen again since their bittersweet separation at the airport in NCIS a decade ago. Granted that it’s already a given that they will be at the forefront of NCIS: Tony & Ziva, but these photos indicate that the procedural will fully capitalize on the couple’s chemistry.
Our Take On NCIS: Tony & Ziva As Part Of NCIS’ Expansion Efforts
NCIS’ Legacy Is On Full Display
Admittedly, doing a Tony and Ziva spinoff is a safe option for NCIS as a franchise. However, just because it’s safe doesn’t mean that it will be boring. The flagship leaving their story with many loose ends functions as an organic motivation for the show. It will also be curious to see how NCIS: Tony & Ziva will connect to the flagship and MCRT, assuming that it does.
Obviously, potential cameos will be a big conversation for the show, simply because of the pair’s connection to other legacy characters like Tim McGee and Leon Vance. Overall, the project looks solid thus far.