NCIS star Sean Murray sparks theories that Michael Weatherly's Tony DiNozzo will be returning. Revolving around a string of special agents that focuses on tackling Naval Crimes, NCIS remains one of the most popular shows on network television. The series has seen its fair share of cast reshuffling, but it has experienced some major losses in its second decade, including the exits of several original cast members, most recently Mark Harmon's Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
Before Gibbs' decision to walk away from his post as the team's leader, the squad has already seen the departure of several founding characters. Most notable, however, was Weatherly's decision to leave the series at the end of season 13. While he was a great part of the NCIS team, the show lost more than a capable investigator. Best known for his humor, not to mention his well-meaning flirtations, the "Very Special Agent" decided to step back from his criminal-hunting job to raise his daughter. Now, however, it may be time for him to reunite with his old team in time for NCIS season 20.
In a new image shared on Instagram by Sean Murray, the actor evokes nostalgia by reminiscing about Timothy McGgee's old days working with DiNozzo with a funny photo of them. In the caption, he merely writes "#ncis #throwbackbtspic," offering no other information about why he was prompted to post the snap. In the comment section, CBS NCIS' official Instagram account chimes in, writing that they "love a good throwback!" This has fueled rumors that the social media post is a tease that DiNozzo will be back for NCIS season 20. Check out Murray's adorable snap below:
It wasn't the end of his arc, however, after DiNozzo left the team. He was able to successfully track down his old flame, Ziva, ultimately discovering that her death was fake. Once the dust has settled regarding this web of plot twists, it was revealed that DiNozzo was planning on settling down and focusing his full efforts on raising their daughter in Paris. Off-screen, the real reason for Weatherly's decision to leave NCIS stems from his eagerness to try something different. This was totally understandable, considering that he was playing the character for already more than a decade when he chose to step away from it. He eventually starred in his own CBS show, Bull.
Obviously, Murray's post isn't a concrete indication that Weatherly is returning to NCIS. However, there are a few factors that are backing up this scenario. For starters, Bull has just ended, which means that Weatherly now has the time to revisit what's arguably his most popular role. Secondly, it's the 20th season of NCIS and it's safe to say that CBS is pulling all the stops to make sure it's a memorable one. Bringing back a fan-favorite character is a great way to do that. Perhaps, Harmon's Gibbs can also return for a more fun reunion.
Source: Sean Murray/Instagram