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Steve D. BinderI’ve explored so much, I have got to do a lot of good things… but I’d like to maybe have my character be undercover somewhere in Europe, to leave Washington DC and have my character embedded in Italy, France or London,” he said.Ever since the new NCIS spinoff centered on special agent duo Tony and Ziva was announced, fans have been wondering if any of the stars from the flagship will make guest appearances. Brian Dietzen recently spoke about his future on the upcoming series, leading fans to wonder:? We have all the information below, plus more details on potential crossovers.
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Will Jimmy Palmer appear on the NCIS: Tony & Ziva?
NCIS: Tony & Ziva was first announced back in February 2024. The upcoming series will focus on fan-favorite couple Ziva David (Cote de Pablo) and Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly), who left NCIS in 2013 and 2016, respectively. It is set in Europe and begins filming this summer, targeting a late 2024 release date on Paramount+. The official synopsis reads: “Tony and Ziva have been raising their daughter together. But when Tony’s security company is attacked, they must go on the run across Europe, trying to figure out who is after them — and maybe even learn to trust each other again? — so that they can finally have their unconventional happily ever after.”
The series is the second NCIS offshoot that was announced this year, along with NCIS: Origins, a prequel series set in the ’80s and centering on a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs. With two new shows joining the NCIS franchise, fans have been curious about the potential for crossovers.
It’s unlikely that NCIS cast members will appear on Origins,but Tony & Ziva is set in the same time period as the original series, so cameos from the rest of the show’s cast aren’t entirely out of the question. One character fans would love to see in Europe is Jimmy Palmer, the Chief Medical Examiner of NCIS and a close friend of Tony and Ziva’s.
Brian Dietzen has starred as the lovable medical examiner since the 21st episode of Season 1 and he is all for a cameo in Tony & Ziva. “I’m so happy for Michael and Cote and think John McNamara is going to do a fantastic job for them,” he told reporters at the Monte Carlo TV Festival, referencing showrunner and writer John McNamara. “It sounds very atypical for NCIS as far as the storytelling because it won’t be a case-of-the week type of show.”
Of the possibility of appearing on the show, he added: “If they say: ‘Hey we need Jimmy Palmer on a plasma screen’ at any point, I’d say hell yes, that’d be fun, I’d do that in a heartbeat.”
Dietzen isn’t the only NCIS cast member who wants in on the Europe action, either. Wilmer Valderrama, who portrays Special Agent Nick Torres, chimed in and revealed that he could see his character taking on an operation in Europe. “I’ve explored so much, I have got to do a lot of good things… but I’d like to maybe have my character be undercover somewhere in Europe, to leave Washington DC and have my character embedded in Italy, France or London,” he said.
Torres hasn’t had much interaction with Tony or Ziva, though, since he joined the NCIS team after their departures. Additionally, Palmer might be too preoccupied back in Washington, D.C. to jet off to Europe. In the Season 21 finale, his new relationship with Jessica Knight (Katrina Law) faced a major hurdle when Knight was offered the role of Chief React Training Officer at Camp Pendleton. After learning about her job offer, Palmer decided to say goodbye to her on his own terms and abruptly ended the relationship, though he immediately regretted it. At the end of the episode, Knight accepted the position, leaving her and Palmer’s relationship status, as well as her future on the show, up in the air.
More: See if Jessica Knight is leaving NCIS in Season 22
During an interview with Us Weekly, Law seemingly hinted at a breakup for Palmer and Knight. “It does become a question of did they jump in too fast, too furious? Is this the right time? Are they using each other as a crutch or is this a legitimate love story?” she told the outlet, adding: “And if it is a legitimate love story, is this going to be a bump or a complete stopping point?” The actress continued: “Brian Dietzen is a wonderful acting partner, and we have so much fun working together. So the thought of not being able to have as many scenes with him is heartbreaking … I want what’s best for the characters each individually in the long run. And we don’t know what that is yet.”
The medical examiner is still grieving the deaths of his mentor, Ducky (David McCallum), and his wife, Breena (Michelle Pierce), so we’re not sure if he can handle one more heartbreak. If Palmer does lose Knight, perhaps a trip to Europe to catch up with some old friends is just what he’ll need.
NCIS showrunner Steve D. Binder is open to crossovers on both shows and he hasn’t ruled anything out. “Let’s put it this way, I wouldlove to. I would love to do that, and I don’t speak for Michael [Weatherly], but I have a feeling Michael would be up for anything like that. So, we’re all for it,” he told TVLine of Tony and Ziva potentially appearing on the flagship. He added: “I’m absolutely open to any ideas anybody has. They are totally welcome to show them to me and see what we can come up with.”
NCIS is available to stream on Paramount Plus.
For more on NCIS, check out our gallery on how much the cast makes per episode, including who gets paid the most.
