Production is now underway for the highly anticipated “NCIS” spinoff, “NCIS: Tony & Ziva,” and Paramount+ has officially announced the supporting cast. The series will see Cote de Pablo and Michael Weatherly reprising their iconic roles as Ziva David and Tony DiNozzo. Filming has commenced in Budapest, Hungary, where the duo will be joined by a talented ensemble cast.
Isla Gie, known for her role in “Foundation,” will play Tony and Ziva’s 12-year-old daughter, Tali. Described as intuitive and vigilant, Tali is eager to prove herself to the adults around her. The cast also includes Amita Suman from “Shadow and Bone” as Claudette, the chief technical officer at Tony’s private security company. Claudette is a problem-solver and a coding expert, ensuring the smooth operation of the company.
Maximilian Osinski, who appeared in “Ted Lasso,” will portray Boris, a brilliant Russian computer hacker who thrives outside the bounds of law and society. Nassima Benchicou from “Emily in Paris” will play Martine, a former French intelligence agent who skillfully navigates conflicts to protect her interests. Julian Ovenden, known for “Bridgerton,” will take on the role of Jonah, a former NSA programmer and now the Secretary General of Interpol. Jonah is charming, decisive, and confident, with a vision to fix the world’s broken systems.
Terence Maynard from “Coronation Street” will play Dr. Lang, a therapist specializing in severe traumas, while Lara Rossi from “The Watch” will appear as Sophie, a professional with a background in the Special Air Service (SAS). Sophie combines maternal warmth with hyper-vigilance in her role as Tali’s caretaker. James D’Arcy, known for “Agent Carter,” will portray Henry, a high-ranking Interpol official dedicated to chasing international criminals.
“NCIS: Tony & Ziva” reunites de Pablo and Weatherly, who left the original “NCIS” series after seasons 11 and 13, respectively. In the original series, Ziva was presumed dead, leading Tony to leave the team to raise their daughter, Tali. However, Ziva was later discovered to be alive, and the new series will follow Tony and Ziva as they raise Tali in Paris. When Tony’s security company is attacked, the family must go on the run across Europe to uncover who is targeting them.
The series is produced by CBS Studios and distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution. Executive producers include showrunner John McNamara, Weatherly, de Pablo, Laurie Lieser, Christina Strain, Shelley Meals, and Mairzee Almas.
In a recent Zoom announcement, de Pablo and Weatherly revealed the official title of the spinoff, “NCIS: Tony & Ziva,” after considering other titles like “NCIS: Europe” and “NCIS: Trust No One.” De Pablo emphasized that the title makes it clear to fans that the show focuses on Tony and Ziva’s adventures in Europe.
The 10-episode series promises to be action-packed, following Tony and Ziva as they navigate dangerous situations across the continent. The show marks the second international extension of the “NCIS” franchise, following “NCIS: Sydney.” Filming is set to begin this summer in Budapest, with John McNamara serving as the writer and showrunner.
The original “NCIS” series saw Tony leaving the team to raise Tali after Ziva’s presumed death. Ziva later reappeared for a final mission with the NCIS team before reuniting with Tony and Tali in Paris. The new series will explore their life together as they face new challenges and threats.
De Pablo expressed her excitement for the series, highlighting the blend of intrigue, romance, and European backdrops. She anticipates that the show will present impossible situations that complicate their lives but also touch on themes of love.
Weatherly, de Pablo, and McNamara will executive produce “NCIS: Tony & Ziva” alongside Laurie Lieser, Christina Strain, and Shelley Meals. The series will be distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.
In addition to the new series, Weatherly and de Pablo are launching a rewatch podcast titled “Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch” on Spotify. The podcast will feature the duo revisiting iconic “NCIS” episodes with current and former cast members, discussing the show’s impact on pop culture since its debut in 2003. The podcast episodes will be released every Tuesday starting June 4, 2024.
Fans have expressed their excitement for both the new series and the rewatch podcast, eagerly anticipating the return of Tony and Ziva. The spinoff series has been greenlit for 10 episodes, with production expected to start this year.
As the “NCIS” franchise continues to expand, “NCIS: Tony & Ziva” promises to deliver an action-packed, emotional roller coaster for fans, exploring the lives of Tony, Ziva, and Tali as they navigate new challenges and adventures across Europe.
Source: Variety, Deadline, Good Housekeeping, The Hollywood Reporter
