Tony and Ziva is the NCIS series that has fans most intrigued. NCIS: Sydney has done an excellent job of introducing new characters, and NCIS: Origins has managed to reignite fan interest in the past of a beloved veteran, but Tony and Ziva is a direct sequel to the flagship series.
It's an interesting proposition, especially since we haven't gotten to see Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) or Ziva David (Cote de Pablo) in action for over a decade. We're eager to catch up with them, and while NBC has been hesitant to issue a proper release date, we now have a window in which we can expect to see the spinoff.
NCIS: Tony and Ziva will premiere in the fall
Tony and Ziva will be premiering in the fall on Paramount Plus. It will be exclusive to the platform, which will be a first for the NCIS franchise. This release window is actually much sooner than we initially thought it would be. Weatherly recently made headlines for teasing a release date more toward the end of the year during a Twitter exchange with a fan.
Upon being asked when the spinoff would premiere, Weatherly wrote: "Oh hi-ho! It’s so, so… close to nearly being a thing we can show," Weatherly tweeted. "But do you why Doctors are so good at golf? They have lots of Patients. But not like crazy patience. Like, normal patience with surprises that make you happy. Like Xmas Patience." The inference to draw from this tweet was that December was going to be the time in which we got to see Tony and Ziva back together.
We're thrilled to learn that we will actually be getting the series months sooner. Even if CBS has yet to iron down a specific date in the fall. It may be disappointing to some fans that it will not be premiering on the same network as NCIS or NCIS: Origins, but this will actually benefit the design and structure of the show.
The series will air on Paramount Plus
"It was always designed to be a streaming show," explained CBS Studios president David Stapf. "Tony and Ziva, it's one of the most unrequited love stories for the audience. So, reuniting them with a global audience is the intent on that show." This is only the latest instance of a franchise spinoff show taking full advantage of the streaming model to tell a more serialized story.
Law & Order: Organized Crime got its start on NBC alongside its franchise peers, but it will be going straight to Peacock for its fifth season. The network noted that the darker subject matter and strong emphasis on a continuing story will actually work better within a bingeable format. The same goes for the characters' ability to swear and engage in more violent set pieces.