NCIS season 21 is not coming to CBS in 2023
By Cody Schultz
For the last 20 years, NCIS has been a staple on CBS’s fall schedule which is why it might be surprising for fans to know that season 21 will not be arriving this fall. That’s right, for the first time since 2002, there will not be a new season of NCIS debuting on CBS which totally doesn’t feel right.
Originally, when CBS renewed its longest-running drama for season 21, the plan was for the new season to once again be a part of the network’s fall programming slate airing alongside NCIS: Hawai’i. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing writers’ and actors’ strikes, CBS has been forced to delay the show’s return which means there won’t be a new season coming this fall… or even in 2024.
That’s right, not only will season 21 not premiere in September, but the season won’t even be coming this year with the plan being for season 21 to instead premiere next year.
When is NCIS season 21 coming out? (Release date predictions)
At this time, CBS has not released the schedule for its midseason lineup; however, it’s looking like the earliest we could see NCIS season 21 premiere would be February 2024.
With the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes still ongoing, production on season 21 won’t be able to begin in time for the season to premiere in September as originally intended. While we’d love to say that there is a chance season 21 could arrive at the top of the new year in January, industry insiders seem to suggest the earliest shows could arrive will be February — and that’s if the strikes end in September.
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If the strikes end in September, that should give the creative time the chance to kick off production and begin filming in time for the season to premiere in February. However, if the strikes run into late September or October, there is a chance that season 21 might not arrive until March.
Once the strikes end and new deals are struck between the unions and studios, we should have a better idea of when NCIS will return. For now, all that is certain is that we have a long hiatus ahead and could be waiting until spring for the new season to arrive.
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