The Ultimate Guide to NCIS Season 21: Latest Updates, Release Date, and Exciting Plot Details

Summary

NCIS season 21 is facing a delay due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, but it has been confirmed to be renewed by CBS.

The core cast members from season 20 are anticipated to make a comeback for the upcoming season 21 of NCIS. However, there is some uncertainty regarding the role of Wilmer Valderrama's character.

NCIS season 21 is expected to delve deeper into the backgrounds and connections of the main characters, placing emphasis on the evolving relationship between Agent Torres and Palmer. As for the exact major storyline arcs of the season, they have not been disclosed yet.

In 2003, the CBS military legal drama JAG aired two episodes that served as a pilot for a spin-off series. Now, 20 years later, NCIS has become one of the most popular scripted dramas globally and fans eagerly await news of season 21. NCIS is a crime procedural with a unique twist - all of its criminal investigations are connected to the military. Since its debut, the show has spawned three successful spin-off series, with one that didn't materialize. Additionally, the first international spin-off, NCIS: Sydney, will begin airing in 2023.

Throughout its two-decade run, NCIS has seen numerous character departures. However, fans can expect much of the main cast from the previous two seasons to remain in NCIS season 21. The upcoming season will delve deeper into the history and relationships of these characters, some of whom have only joined the NCIS family recently. Although there may be a slight delay, this only serves to heighten the anticipation among fans, eager to discover what lies ahead for their beloved characters.

The Latest NCIS Season 21 News

NCIS, which originated from the CBS series JAG in 2002, has always been a part of CBS's fall lineup. However, there is a significant development regarding the upcoming NCIS season 21 in 2023. For the first time in years, NCIS will not be included in the schedule. This is due to a lack of new scripted content premiering during the usual September to November period, when new seasons typically debut. The reason for this is the simultaneous strikes by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA).

The WGA strike began in May, followed by the SAG-AFTRA strike in July. As a result, even if scripts for NCIS season 21 were ready when the WGA strike commenced, there were no actors available for filming just two months later. Both unions are currently on strike, having failed to reach agreements with producers and studio executives regarding fair pay, compensation for streaming shows, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence. Until these negotiations are resolved, neither union will resume work, leading to an indefinite delay in the production of shows like NCIS season 21.

NCIS Season 21 Is Confirmed

NCIS Season 21 Release Date

NCIS season 21 has been officially renewed by CBS, despite facing a delay. In February 2023, CBS confirmed the renewal for NCIS season 21, as well as announcing the renewal for NCIS: Hawai’i season 3.

While it was initially stated that NCIS season 21 would premiere in the fall, the exact release date for the upcoming season remains uncertain. If production begins in late 2023, there is a possibility that the series might have a limited number of episodes and debut in early 2024. However, this scenario seems improbable.

Instead,

Where To Watch NCIS Season 21

will probably be postponed until the 2024-2025 TV season so that the writers and actors can have ample time to return to work after the strikes have ended while ensuring a complete season of the show.

Viewers can catch NCIS season 21 live on CBS during its premiere and stream it on Paramount+ the following day. Initially, CBS had incorporated NCIS season 21 into its Monday night schedule, airing at 9 PM before NCIS Hawai’i season 3. It remains uncertain whether the show will maintain its current night and time slot upon its television comeback.

The first 20 seasons of NCIS, as well as the rest of the franchise, are available to watch on Paramount+ while fans wait for the debut of NCIS season 21.

NCIS Season 21 Cast

The cast of NCIS season 21 is expected to remain unchanged from the previous season. The only member of the cast who was left in a precarious situation at the end of season 20 was Wilmer Valderrama, who plays Nick Torres. His character's storyline ended on a cliffhanger as he confronted someone from his past with his gun drawn. Despite this, there haven't been any announcements of departures from the series, suggesting that Valderrama will likely be returning for the NCIS season 21 cast.

The NCIS season 21 cast should include all the main cast members from season 20:

Sean Murray as Special Agent Timothy McGee

Katrina Law as Special Agent Jessica Knight

Gary Cole as Supervisory Special Agent Alden Parker

Brian Dietzen as Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jimmy Palmer

Diona Reasonover as Forensic Specialist Kasie Hines

Rocky Carroll as NCIS Director Leon Vance

David McCallum as NCIS Historian Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard

NCIS Season 21 Crew

Despite Mark Harmon's departure from the series after four episodes in season 19, devoted fans may be wondering if Harmon's character, Gibbs, could make a guest appearance in the cast of NCIS season 21. Considering the possibility of a shorter season and the likelihood of a nearly one-year delay, it appears unlikely that Harmon would return for NCIS season 21. Nevertheless, since the character was written out of the show instead of being killed off, there remains the potential for Harmon's return to the series in the future.

Although Donald P. Bellisario initially served as the showrunner and his production company is still involved in the series' production, he stepped back from day-to-day operations in 2007. The crew for NCIS Season 21 is expected to remain largely the same as the team that has been in charge of the series since then. Shane Brennan and Chas. Floyd Johnson have been sharing most of the showrunning responsibilities since.

NCIS Season 21 Story

Mark Horowitz and Steven D. Binder have previously taken on the roles of both producers and directors for the show series. Additionally, Binder has been responsible for the show's writing. It is highly likely that they will continue to contribute to the direction and storyline of NCIS season 21. As of now, no other directors or writers have been announced for the upcoming season.

Similar to other crime procedurals, NCIS follows a case-of-the-week structure, while also incorporating overarching storylines for the entire season. Season 21 of NCIS will continue several storylines from the previous season, including the unresolved cliffhanger surrounding Agent Torres.

Torres, a character with a secretive past, has worked undercover for a long time, withholding crucial information about his identity and actions from the rest of the team. By compelling him to go undercover in a prison in the season 20 finale and confront someone from his past at gunpoint, NCIS season 21 is poised to unravel the depths of Torres' character.

Additionally, in a less intense storyline, Palmer boldly admitted his love for Knight in front of the team during season 20, suggesting that their relationship will see further development in NCIS season 21. While their dynamic may not be the central focus during investigations, the series has adeptly interwoven relationship arcs within larger mysteries in the past, and NCIS season 21 will continue this tradition.

What the big arcs of NCIS season 21 are won’t be evident until the series is back in production.