Beloved readers, it’s time to brace yourselves as another electrifying chapter of your favorite special agent team will be hitting your television screens with a bang! The fans have begun the official countdown for this much-awaited season, and they expect nothing less than a mind-blowing journey into the world of crime-solving that will leave them on the edge of their seats.
So, if you are one of those who want to get clarity about the series’ current status, release date, plot, cast, and other crucial details since the renewal was announced earlier this year, then look no further! As we at Web News Observer have compiled all of the latest information right here for you. Continue reading to find all of your answers about CBS’s NCIS Season 21.
NCIS Season 21 Release Date: When will it premiere on CBS?
If you have been keeping up with all the latest updates on NCIS Season 21, then you’ll know that the filming of the new season hasn’t even begun yet, and it will take quite some time to properly schedule the production stage, which usually commences around the summer season. Due to this, one thing is pretty certain there is no way that the beloved police procedural series will be premiering new episodes in July 2023!
One of the main reasons for this delay is the ongoing 2023 Writers Guild of America strike and the extension of the actor’s strike, which have directly caused many networks to close their writers’ rooms for a temporary period of time until a proper resolution for their compensation is made. Hence, a major shift in the 2023–2024 primetime schedule has been speculated to happen in a few weeks by the CBS network, and the fans are waiting for it to be acknowledged.
Right now, it appears that NCIS might just be one of the shows that are going to push back its premiere sometime in early to mid-2024 in order to avoid any major hurdles in the way once the production starts once the strike concludes, which may happen later this year.
Moreover, George Cheeks, President and CEO of CBS and Chief Content Officer, spoke about the possibility of delays in the fall 2023 lineup that didn’t factor in the potential impact of the ongoing writers’ strike during a keynote at Banff moderated by Deadline’s Peter White. He elaborated on the revised CBS fall scheduling plans, which are expected to be officially revealed soon. “First of all, obviously it’s going to be very reality-heavy,” he said.
He was also asked to address the studio’s negotiations with the top Hollywood guilds and the ongoing WGA strike, to which he called the recently reached tentative agreement with the DGA “helpful.” Also added, “Our challenging issues are not exactly the same.” Cheeks also stated, “I still remain very hopeful that we will find compromises because it’s existential for all of us — for the studios, for the creative partners. We have got to figure this out.”
In conclusion, if we keep this scenario in mind, then there is a chance that the show creators may aim for the 21st season’s official release later this year or even sometime around 2024 in order to start the production process without any obstacles for the writers to begin working on it once the strike concludes. So, it’s safe to say that NCIS fans may learn more about the show’s new release date from CBS or the show’s producers in the coming days.
As there has been no revised schedule has been issued by the network as of penning this, so we urge the fans to check out the previously unveiled 2023–2024 primetime CBS schedule, which still seems to be going as per plan, and NCIS Season 21 is still confirmed to be part of the fall lineup, with September being the likely release window, at the same time slot every Monday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS and later on Paramount Plus along with its sibling series, NCIS: Hawai’i.
NCIS Season 21 Plot: What to expect?
The official synopsis of the show follows: NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) is more than just an action drama. With liberal doses of humor, it’s a show that focuses on the sometimes complex and always amusing dynamics of a team forced to work together in high-stress situations. From murder and espionage to terrorism and stolen submarines, these special agents investigate all crimes with Navy or Marine Corps ties.
As of writing this, no major details about the plot of NCIS Season 21 have been disclosed, so we speculate that the next season will definitely pick up from the final episode of Season 20, “Black Sky,” which is directed by Diana Valentine and written by Brendan Fehily and David J. North.
In the episode, viewers got to see that Torres finds himself in prison as the team tries to stop an impending terror attack on U.S. soil. We expect this major cliffhanger to serve as inspiration for the upcoming season’s storyline expansion and resolution of all unanswered questions, which the fans truly want. Take a look at the official promo of the last episode to get some insight into what transpired in the NCIS Season 20 finale below:
NCIS Season 21 Cast: Who will reprise their roles?
The main cast members who are expected to reprise their roles are as follows: Sean Murray as Timothy McGee, Wilmer Valderrama as Nick Torres, Katrina Law as Jessica Knight, Brian Dietzen as Dr. Jimmy Palmer, Diona Reasonover as Kasie Hines, David McCallum as Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard, Rocky Carroll as Leon Vance, Gary Cole as Alden Parker.
There can be some new additions to the cast which will be disclosed once the official release date is disclosed. The series is created by Donald P. Bellisario, and NCIS is produced by Bellisarius Productions in association with CBS Studios. Steven D. Binder, Chas. Floyd Johnson, Mark Horowitz, Mark Harmon, Scott Williams, David North, and Bellisario serve as executive producers.
NCIS Season 21 Frequently Asked Questions
When was NCIS renewed for its 21st season?
On February 21, 2023, NCIS was renewed for a 21st season as it has become one of the -longest-running scripted, non-animated U.S. primetime TV series currently airing, surpassed only by Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order. It is the seventh-longest-running scripted U.S. primetime TV series overall.
How many episodes will be there in NCIS Season 21?
The next season’s official episode count may be around 21 to 22 episodes with an average duration of 39 to 44 minutes, premiering on a weekly basis. The episode count might vary if the network decides to air a shorter season with 18 episodes as a part of cost-cutting or the ongoing writers’ strike. So, all the latest developments for the official episode titles and synopses will be released later, once the release date draws near, in order to prevent early spoilers.
Is NCIS Season 21 the last season?
This year the series was renewed for just one season as a part of the 2023–24 CBS broadcast season instead of a “multiple season order,” which caused a bit of concern among the loyal viewers. To be honest, right now it is safe to assume that the plans for an additional season haven’t been confirmed by the show creators, as their prime goal is the release of the next season. So, the future status of the show is at a standstill. Hence, there is a high chance that the network might renew this franchise for more seasons.
Is there any new teaser or trailer?
As mentioned above, production hasn’t begun, which makes it very difficult for the network to create any new promotional material. Moreover, the release date hasn’t been disclosed, leaving a lot of time for marketing to begin. We’ll have to wait for it for some time. Until then, if you haven’t been able to keep up with the special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, then watch all the previous seasons to keep up with the plot.
Where to watch NCIS?
All the episodes of NCIS are exclusively available on the CBS official website and app, depending on the user’s location. The series is also available on Paramount Plus, FuboTV, and Netflix, along with all the prior seasons on the streaming platforms. The viewers can also stream the series by renting or purchasing it on Vudu, Amazon Instant Video, iTunes, and Google Play, with a number of membership plans. It is also available to watch exclusively on Pluto for free based on the viewer’s location.
