NCIS” is returning with a new season, and we couldn’t be more excited. While it is uncertain when it will be released owing to the writers’ strike, it is hoped that it will not be too late as it was initially intended to premiere in the fall of 2023. The cult cr1me drama series, short for Naval Cr1minal Investigative Service, has been airing on CBS since 2003.

It’s little surprise that it was renewed again, given that it keeps the network near the top of American “most popular” lists. According to TV Line, and Variety reported CBS was named the “Most Watched Network” in 2022, and “NCIS” was the most watched series that year. Every week, around 11.1 million people turned in to see what the agency team was up to.

The military-related cr1minal investigations have been so popular with audiences over the years that “NCIS” has evolved into a media franchise, with spin-off shows such as “NCIS: Los Angeles” and “NCIS: New Orleans.” However, according to ratings and fan evaluations, the original “NCIS” is by far the most popular of the lot.

The series is infamous for resurrecting long-gone figures, and this time is no exception. Rumor has it that, in addition to the original cast lineup, some of your favorite team members who you thought were gone for good may make an unexpected cameo.

The main cast of NCIS should return.

Because “NCIS” has been on the air for so long (it’s the third longest-running primetime series currently on the air in the United States, according to HollywoodInsider), a number of performers have come and gone. While CBS has not officially confirmed the main lineup for the upcoming season, we anticipate seeing the show’s regulars.

According to Just Jared, the original “NCIS” trio have renewed their contracts, which means we’ll be seeing Sean Murray as special agent Timothy McGee, David McCallum as Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard, and Rocky Carroll as NCIS Director Leon Vance. Brian Dietzen will return as chief medical examiner Dr. Jimmy Palmer, as will Gary Cole as supervisory special agent Alden Parker.

Some new faces are also expected to return to help solve murd3rs, including Katrina Law as special agent Jessica Knight, Wilmer Valderrama as special agent Nicholas Torres, and Diona Reasonover as forensic specialist Kasie Hines. With the main cast expected to return in full force, some more famous names are expected to return as well.

There is rumors of a well-known character returning.
The return of the main “NCIS” ensemble for Season 21 is fantastic, but what has us the most nervous is the rumor that Mark Harmon may make a return. The actor has played the legendary character of Leroy Jethro Gibbs, the fierce commander and supervisory special agent, from the show’s inception. After Harmon left “NCIS” in Season 19, the unit was assigned a new supervisory special agent called Alden Parker, who was played by Gary Cole.

According to a source close to Harmon, Gibbs returning to NCIS headquarters is not out of the question. “Mark’s been teasing a return to the show, and everyone wanted him back,” an unnamed source told Closer Weekly. Harmon, on the other hand, has been working on a World War II novel titled “Ghosts of Honolulu,” so he doesn’t have much free time. “He’s still on the fence about returning to the grind,” claimed an insider.

As we wait for a Gibbs appearance, the actor’s “NCIS” coworkers are probably doing the same. They’ve been fairly outspoken about what they think about Harmon (spoiler alert: it’s all the best), so he might need to appear in at least one more episode to satisfy everyone’s appetite for a head slap or two in the upcoming season.