The NCIS team is getting ready for some big changes. Wilmer Valderrama, who plays Special Agent Nick Torres, just told fans that Season 24 will bring “major changes and major additions” when the show returns to CBS this fall. After a shocking Season 23 finale that left viewers worried about two characters, the actor opened up about what is coming next for the long-running crime drama.
Wilmer Valderrama Says a Major Shakeup Is Coming to the Show
Valderrama spoke to People magazine at the 2026 Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival. He did not hold back about the show’s future.
“Look, every couple of years, you guys know NCIS has to make sure you’re watching. So we shake up the TV a little bit and we listen,” the actor said. “And we listen to where you as fans want to see us do.”
He then shared the news that has everyone talking.
“If you ask me to speculate, I think there’s a major, major shakeup happening,” Valderrama continued. “Next season, there’s some major changes and there are some major additions. What does that mean for Torres? I can only hope that he makes it out alive.”
The Season 23 Cliffhanger Left Everyone Guessing
The Season 23 finale ended with a tense scene. Torres confronted Patrick Keleher‘s character Mateo, who is Timothy McGee‘s teenage son. Mateo had been secretly accessing NCIS computer servers. The standoff ended with a gunshot, leaving fans unsure if Torres or Mateo got hit.
Valderrama admitted that even he does not know the full answer yet. “To be honest, I don’t think we figured that one out yet,” he told People. “I don’t think we have an idea yet. I asked, ‘What do we want from it,’ but I will tell you that someone does get hit and people might not like it.”
NCIS showrunner Steven D. Binder did give fans some relief. He confirmed to TV Insider that no one dies from that shooting. “I sort of had my fill this season, all of us, of killing people. So I can rule that out,” Binder explained. “When someone’s dead, they’re dead.”
Who Is Coming Back for NCIS Season 24
CBS officially renewed NCIS for Season 24 on January 22, 2026. The show will keep its Tuesday night spot at 8/7c for the 2026-2027 season. Based on multiple reports, here is who fans can expect to see return:
Sean Murray as Timothy McGee is expected back. He is the only remaining character from Season 1 of the flagship series and shows no signs of leaving. Murray told Us Weekly in November 2025 that the team always looks for new angles to keep things fresh.
Gary Cole as Alden Parker will likely continue to lead the team. He joined in Season 19 and has become a steady presence since Gibbs left.
Wilmer Valderrama as Nick Torres is expected to return, but his condition after the finale is still unknown. His own words suggest he might be hurt, but he is not leaving the show.
Katrina Law as Jessica Knight should be back. She is the only female agent in the office and seems firmly planted at NCIS after a brief time on the REACT team.
Brian Dietzen as Dr. Jimmy Palmer is returning. The chief medical examiner has been on the show for many years and remains a fan favorite.
Diona Reasonover as Kasie Hines is also expected back. The forensic scientist got more screen time in Season 23, and Reasonover has hinted at even more stories to tell.
Patrick Keleher as Mateo will likely appear in at least one episode next season. His character’s secret activities and the shooting cliffhanger need to be resolved.
Who Is Not Coming Back
Rocky Carroll will not return as NCIS Director Leon Vance. His character was killed off in Season 23 after 18 seasons and 392 episodes. Vance’s death has left a power vacuum at the agency. Returning villain Gabriel LaRoche, now the Associate Attorney General, is already trying to take over the position himself.
The Season 23 finale also brought back Kayla Vance, Leon’s eldest daughter who is now an NCIS agent. She could potentially join the team full-time in Season 24.
Mark Harmon is not confirmed to return as Leroy Jethro Gibbs. He left the original series in Season 19 but continues to narrate and play adult Gibbs on NCIS: Origins. Since his character is still alive, there is always a chance he could show up, but nothing has been announced.
What the Major Additions Could Mean for Season 24
Valderrama’s use of the word “additions” is important. He said there will be more than one new face on the show. With Vance gone, a new director or acting director will likely step in. Kayla Vance’s return also opens the door for her to join the Major Case Response Team full-time.
The show has also been testing out recurring agents like Zane Holtz as Dale Sawyer and J. Claude Deering as Curtis Hubley. Either of them could be promoted to series regulars.
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When Will NCIS Season 24 Premiere
NCIS Season 24 is set for fall 2026. While CBS has not announced an exact date yet, fans can expect a late September or early October premiere. The show will air on CBS in the US and will be available on streaming platforms in the UK, Canada, Australia, India, and other regions shortly after each episode airs.
The franchise is also expanding. NCIS: New York with LL Cool J as Sam Hanna is coming this fall. NCIS: Origins will return for Season 3, and NCIS: Sydney is coming back for Season 4.
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Stay tuned to VvipTimes for more NCIS cast updates and CBS show news.
