As the cliffhanging end to Season 20 does not seem to ripe for our NCIS officers,
When can we expect it on our screens?
Will it be in October?
Keep reading to find out!
First things first. Let us get the bad news out of the way. October is not a favorable month for NCIS Season 21 to be back, and it does not seem like 2023 meets the mark of its return at all. February 21st was a miraculous day! A renewal for Season 21 was announced, and the fans couldn’t have been happier. It seems like the perfect cliffhanger at the end of Season 1 was the ultimate catalyst for another season’s renewal.
Ever since the unanimous renewal announcement in February 2023, a lot of events have transpired, causing a delay in production as well as production-related announcements for NCIS Season 21. This is in reference to the unanimous strikes by the WGA and the SAG AFTRA that caused massive productions to be muted into indefinite hiatus periods.
Following a 146-day-long period of WGA strikes, the writers have been able to secure themselves the basic demands that they had been picketing for. Ever since then, ardent fans have been constantly on the lookout for updates regarding when productions will resume their work to bring out their favorite series on the screen. So it is certain that October is not the month when NCIS Season 21 returns to our screens. So when can it be?
NCIS Season 21 Arrival Date: Best Case Scenario
As stated above, the series was vouched for a Season 21 renewal, so the infamous procedural crime drama will return to the big screen. However, the big question is WHEN? Technically, for a fall release, the writing should be wrapped up by summer and in post-production before fall, but that cannot be the case since the writers are on strike. Hence, a more calculated prediction would lead us to a mid-2024 release at best! However, CBS then clarified that they will not release NCIS Season 21 this fall!
Instead, they are going to air reruns of the show on the CBS network and have picked the slot on Mondays, 9/8c. For the time being, we urge the readers to check out the new revised fall CBS’s 2023–24 schedule, which, on a positive note, includes the NCIS 20th anniversary marathon that will air on September 25, 2023, as a bonus for the lack of NCIS content.
At least we have something to look forward to this fall, even if it doesn’t mean we get an entirely new season. This might be the perfect opportunity for you to re-watch the earlier 20 seasons of NCIS!
Deadline recently reported that after the end of the WGA strikes, the NCIS writing room will be back in form within the next week to resume and complete their scripts. Good news right? Wrong! Even then, the SAG AFTRA is still fighting with the AMPTP, negotiating their rights, and they do not currently have an expiry date on their negotiations. Hopefully, if they do end by the end of this month, we can expect our favorite NCIS officers to return within March and April of 2024.
NCIS Season 21 Cast: Who Will Reprise Their Roles For The New Season?
Since the writing for Season 21 was on a hiatus all this time, we have not received any official announcements on additions or deductions to the cast. One thing we know for sure. Mark Harmon will not be returning for Season 21. In addition to this, some rumors are saying they will be bringing back Michael Weatherly in Season 21, as was done before in Seasons 16 and 17, as well as Cote De Pablo!
TV Fanatic reports,
“Bosses are tearing their hair out over their terms.” This is in tune with the demands the actors are placing for their return to the show. So, we will need to wait and watch over the developments that take place in this context.
Other than that, this is the cast list of who we can expect:
- 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
- Rocky Carroll as Leon Vance
- Gary Cole as Alden Parker
The creation of the series can be attributed to Donald P. Bellisario. 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 Updates: How Will The Long Break Affect The Story?
It will be a considerable while before we find NCIS Season 21 on our screens, given that all the potential fall 2023 releases have been shifted to a mid-season release in 2024. Between the inconsequential premiere delay and the never-ending strikes, will we ever reach a consensus? Even if negotiations are met, and the strike dissipates by the end of the year, it does not leave enough wiggle room for the production and post-production process to end before the new season releases within the first quarter of 2024.
It is definitely not enough time to shoot 22 episodes, as Season 20 contains 22 episodes. So it looks like we will be viewing a shorter season this year if you want Season 21 to reach your screens by mid-season 2024. This won’t affect what the story will portray per se because filming has not begun yet, but it will only present a shorter season, with major stories being pushed into another season down the line.
Where To Watch NCIS Season 21?
NCIS Season 21 has not reached our screens yet. However, as mentioned above, CBS scheduled the episode reruns on Mondays at 9/8c. When it does, it will air on the official CBS network channel and later on Paramount Plus. This gives you ample time to catch up to the prior 20 seasons on the following platforms:
- CBS App
- YouTube TV
- Fubo TV
- Hulu +
- Live TV
- Netflix
- Vudu (rent or buy)
- Amazon Instant Video (rent or buy)
- iTunes (rent or buy)
- Google Play (rent or buy)
More Shows Like NCIS
If you are getting tired of the long wait, you can tune into some series that gives a similar feel like NCIS to get into the mood:
- NCIS: Los Angeles
- NCIS: New Orleans
- The Blacklist
- S.W.A.T
For similar content, stay tuned to Web News Observer.