The NCIS Cast: Who's Back For Season 22, The Shocking Exit Rumors, And The New Spinoffs That Will Change Everything

The landscape of the *NCIS* universe is undergoing its biggest transformation in years, with the main show's cast for Season 22 confirmed alongside a wave of explosive new spin-off announcements. As of today, December 12, 2025, the core team is set to return, but not without facing a shocking character death that has been teased to rock the Naval Criminal Investigative Service to its foundation. Fans are desperate for updates on who is returning, who might be leaving, and how the new expansion of the franchise, including the highly anticipated *NCIS: Tony & Ziva* series, will impact the original team.

The long-running CBS procedural continues to dominate primetime, largely due to the chemistry of its current ensemble and the deep, evolving history of its characters. This article provides a comprehensive, up-to-the-minute look at the main cast returning for the 2024-2025 television season, the massive projects their stars are pursuing outside of the series, and the future of the entire *NCIS* franchise.

The Confirmed NCIS Main Cast: Season 22 (2024–2025)

The following actors are confirmed to be returning as the primary investigative team for *NCIS* Season 22, which continues the legacy of the original series that first debuted in 2003. Their biographies and roles are essential to understanding the show's current dynamic.

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• Gary Cole as Supervisory Special Agent Alden Parker: Cole joined the series in Season 19 to fill the massive void left by Mark Harmon’s departure. Parker is a former FBI agent known for his quirky demeanor and complex past, bringing a different leadership style to the team compared to Gibbs.
• Sean Murray as NCIS Senior Special Agent Timothy McGee: Murray is the longest-serving cast member, having been with the show since Season 1. McGee has evolved from a probationary agent and computer nerd to a Senior Special Agent and the team’s anchor, now a family man married to Delilah Fielding. He is set to break a franchise record for appearances in Season 22.
• Wilmer Valderrama as Special Agent Nick Torres: Torres is a deep-cover specialist known for his intense undercover work and emotional complexity. Valderrama has been a fan favorite since joining in Season 14. His character’s past trauma and dedication to the team have been central to recent storylines.
• Katrina Law as Special Agent Jessica Knight: Knight is a former REACT (Regional Enforcement Action Capabilities Team) agent known for her tactical skills and direct approach. Her relationship with Dr. Jimmy Palmer has become a key emotional arc for the series.
• Brian Dietzen as Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jimmy Palmer: Dietzen, who has been with the show since Season 1, became a main cast member in Season 10. Palmer is the heart of the team, providing medical expertise and emotional support, especially after the death of his wife, Breena.
• Rocky Carroll as NCIS Director Leon Vance: As the head of the entire agency, Director Vance provides strategic oversight and a crucial link to the political realities of the job. Carroll has been a main cast member since Season 6.

The Major Character Death & Jessica Knight’s Uncertain Future

The most pressing question heading into the 2024-2025 season revolves around the possibility of a major cast departure, a storyline that has been heavily teased by the cast and showrunners. While the main cast is confirmed to return, the season finale left two major question marks designed to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

The Shocking Character Exit Tease

Recent news has been dominated by comments from Wilmer Valderrama, who teased that the Season 22 finale would feature a "heartbreaking" major character death. This kind of high-stakes exit has historically been used to reset the show’s dynamic, such as the departures of Agent Gibbs or Agent Ziva David. The specific identity of the character remains a closely guarded secret, fueling intense fan speculation across social media platforms and message boards.

Is Special Agent Jessica Knight Leaving NCIS?

The other primary source of exit rumors centers on Special Agent Jessica Knight, played by Katrina Law. Throughout the previous season, Knight was presented with a significant job offer that would take her away from the Washington D.C. team. Director Vance (Rocky Carroll) was seen pressuring her for a final answer, creating a cliffhanger that directly impacts her future with the team and her relationship with Dr. Jimmy Palmer. While Law is confirmed for Season 22, the resolution of this career choice is expected to be a major plot driver in the new season, potentially leading to a mid-season departure or a major change in her role.

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NCIS Universe Expansion: New Spinoffs and Star Projects

The *NCIS* franchise is not just continuing; it's expanding dramatically in the 2024-2025 season, proving its topical authority as a flagship CBS property. This expansion includes two major new series and several exciting projects from the current cast members, adding new entities to the ever-growing universe.

The Highly Anticipated NCIS: Tony & Ziva Spinoff

The biggest news for longtime fans is the official greenlight for the *NCIS: Tony & Ziva* spinoff, starring Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo, reprising their roles as Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David. The new series, which is set to air in 2025, will follow the fan-favorite couple as they go on the run across Europe with their daughter, Tali. This announcement came shortly after Michael Weatherly’s surprise guest appearance in a previous season, which confirmed the show’s commitment to its legacy characters and set the stage for this new chapter.

NCIS: Origins and the Young Gibbs Story

Adding to the franchise's depth is *NCIS: Origins*, a prequel series set in 1990. This show will explore the early career of Leroy Jethro Gibbs, with actor Austin Stowell cast to play the younger version of Mark Harmon’s iconic character. The series will delve into Gibbs’s early life and his first days at the NCIS Camp Pendleton office, providing essential backstory and connecting to the main series' lore.

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Current Cast Members’ Projects Outside of NCIS

The stars of the main *NCIS* show are also busy with major side projects that showcase their versatility:

• Wilmer Valderrama’s Multi-Faceted Career: Valderrama is having a massive year outside of playing Nick Torres. He is developing a live-action *Zorro* series for Disney Branded Television, stepping into a producer role for a new CBS comedy, and is set to release his debut memoir, *An American Story: Everyone's Invited*, in 2024. He also starred in the 2024 holiday movie, *A Sudden Case of Christmas*.
• Sean Murray’s Franchise Record: Beyond his ongoing storyline in Season 22, which sees McGee suspicious of Deputy Director LaRoche, Sean Murray is set to break a franchise record for the number of episodes appeared in, solidifying his status as the procedural’s most consistent star.

The combination of a stable, beloved main cast, high-stakes plot twists, and the launch of two major new spin-offs ensures that the *NCIS* universe remains a central pillar of television. The fate of Jessica Knight and the identity of the character facing a tragic exit are the key drivers of curiosity, but the return of Tony and Ziva and the exploration of Gibbs's origins promise to keep the entire franchise fresh and engaging for years to come.