NCIS star Michael Weatherly claims new spinoff set in Europe will ‘up the stakes’ after fans vow not to watch show
The actor, who portrays Tony DiNozzo in the franchise, is gearing up to reprise his role for the new Europe-set series that will also see the return of another beloved star.
Michael, 55, starred on the long-running original NCIS until Season 13 and only recently returned for a cameo in a special tribute episode to Ducky, after the death of his portrayer, David McCallum.
Throughout the series, fans fell in love with the relationship and eventual romance between agents Tony and Ziva (Cote de Pablo).
After a faked death, crazy missions, a daughter together, and time away from the team, Tony and Ziva are now raising their child, Tali, in Europe.
That’s where the new series, titled NCIS: Tony & Ziva, will pick up when it debuts.
Tony now runs a security company, but when it’s attacked, he and his family will head out on an adventure across Europe as they work to figure out who is after them.
Unlike the rest of the franchise, the show will have its original release on Paramount+ instead of being a CBS original.
In a new TikTok video, Michael answered a series of “burning questions” from fans.
DANGER AHEAD
He revealed the show will “really up the stakes” from what viewers are used to.
“It’s 10 episodes of one long story,” he said, adding that it’s “like a 10-hour movie.”
“Limited series is what they call it, I guess, but it really allows you to explore the character arc with each episode being a reset,” Michael continued.
He went on to explain that the original show is mainly a procedural, with each episode usually having its own open-and-shut storyline.
For this show, though, it will be a much more serialized story.
“I think [it] is going to bring a lot more depth to the characterization and to the relationships and we’re going to be able to do not as much recaps and exposition,” the star said.
That’s not to say there still won’t be a lot of heart-pumping action for fans to look forward to, and Michael revealed it’s actually the opposite.
It’s 10 episodes of one long story
Michael Weatherly
“The action is going to feel more like a James Bond, Mission Impossible, Taken kind of thing,” he teased of what to expect.
Though Michael is working to increase fans’ excitement about the upcoming spinoff, viewers are still mourning the loss of a different NCIS spinoff show.
CONFLICTED FANS
CBS canceled NCIS: Hawaiʻi, starring Vanessa Lachey, last month after three seasons.
Despite canceling one NCIS show, two others had been ordered.
Along with NCIS: Tony & Ziva, another show has been ordered about the early days of Leroy Jethro Gibbs, who was played by Michael Harmon in the original NCIS.
This one, titled NCIS: Origins, will be a prequel series and is scheduled to premiere this fall on CBS.
Fans of NCIS: Hawai’i are not happy with this news and are threatening to boycott the upcoming spinoffs.
“Will we watch NCIS Origins or the other NCIS Europe? Nope. You will find out the hard way that you should save NCIS Hawaii,” one social media user vowed.
“I loved you, CBS (for having positive representation) but then you cheated on me with Origins and the other show,” a second upset fan tweeted.
“NCIS Hawaii is without a doubt the most entertaining one with fantastic cast and crew,” a third user said. “Canceling it for origins… Dumbest decision ever.”
