The Dramatic Return of Tony DiNozzo
The season 24 premiere of NCIS delivered high stakes from the start, opening in a tense alleyway confrontation between Nick Torres (Wilmer Valderrama) and Timothy McGee’s son, Mateo (Patrick Keleher). The mystery surrounding the gunshot heard at the end of the previous season was finally resolved, revealing that a familiar face had been caught in the crossfire.
Showrunner Steven D. Binder shared in an exclusive interview how the creative team decided to bring back Michael Weatherly as Anthony “Tony” DiNozzo. «Once it became clear Michael Weatherly was going to come back, then the question was, well, 'What’s this man’s intro? He deserves something really big,'» Binder explained.
While the writers considered having the characters shoot one another, they opted for a more surprising path. «But Tony, that seems pretty fun. Especially the idea that McGee’s son shoots Tony. I mean, awkward,» Binder added.
Leadership Changes at the Agency
Following the shooting, the team faced intense scrutiny from the new Deputy Director, Gabriel LaRoche (Seamus Dever), who sidelined both McGee and Torres. However, as the episode progressed, the team managed to solve the case, rescue the Secretary of the Navy’s daughter, and uncover the blackmail scheme that forced Mateo to steal classified information.
The premiere concluded with a massive shift for the agency. After LaRoche was dismissed for poor leadership, the Secretary of the Navy insisted that Tony step into the role of Deputy Director. Despite his initial reluctance, Tony accepted the position.
A New Dynamic for the Team
Binder emphasized that while Tony is known for his unconventional and often playful nature, his return will bring a new kind of effectiveness to the office. «He’s going to get in there. He’s going to do it differently. He’s going to do it the DiNozzo way. He’s unconventional for sure, but he’s going to be professional and he’s going to be effective,» said Binder.
The relationship between Tony and McGee has also evolved significantly since Tony’s departure in 2016. No longer just the «big brother» and the «probie,» both characters are now parents with deeper experience.
Regarding their changing roles, Binder teased: «McGee’s got more experience being the director than Tony has. McGee has been the interim director, so in some ways the tables are turned on these two. Who’s the probie now is the way to think about it.»
Looking ahead, viewers can expect Tony to maintain his trademark habit of using movie quotes—even using them to help solve cases—while demonstrating a new level of maturity as he navigates his first days as the agency's leader.