‘NCIS: Tony & Ziva’ Showrunner and Star Volley Over Crossover Possibilities

While it’s clear that NCIS: Tony & Ziva are aiming to do something a little different out the gate when it premieres on September 4, as the first NCIS show streaming exclusively on Paramount+, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s completely separate from the bigger NCIS Universe. At this year’s San Diego Comic Con Collider’s Meredith Loftus and fans not only got a new trailer but… nearly conflicting answers about the possibility of crossover potential for the upcoming Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo-led spin-off. During the panel, which consisted of Weatherly, de Pablo, and showrunner John McNamara, and moderated by NCIS’ Brian Dietzen, McNamara and Weatherly dished on the possibility of other NCIS characters in the spin-off. For Weatherly, the crossover potential was a resounding “No!” But McNamara explains:

“Absolutely! It’s going to make them seem more realistic. There are name drops that come up. To me, I felt like we were setting the spike for that.“

‘NCIS: Tony & Ziva’ SDCC Fans Got a Glimpse at the First Ten Minutes of the Spin-Off

In addition to a trailer that, quite frankly, looked like was fanfiction come to life in the best way possible, audiences at San Diego Comic Con also got a look at the first ten minutes of the first episode “No Country is Safe.” While the trailer begins to peel back the curtain on the premise of NCIS: Tony & Ziva, such as revealing that Tony was framed to appear as if he embezzled millions of dollars from Interpol, the first ten minutes revealed that not only will the story take place in Paris, where Tony, Ziva, and their daughter Tali are living, but partially in Budapest.

The beginning clip takes place nine days in the future from the events of Episode 1, with Tony and Ziva meeting up in a tuxedo and wedding dress. And before Tiva shippers get too excited, this seems to clearly be a ruse to lure someone out in order to take them down. When the scene ends, guns drawn, it flips back nine days to Paris where Tony learns of the money transfer. Chaos subsequently ensues, with a flash drive now possessed by an associate of Tony’s, Claudette (Amita Suman) likely playing a bigger role as the series goes on and, for the moment, exonerates Tony. But given what fans learn from the trailer, things won’t stay wrapped up in a neat little bow, with Tony and Ziva having to send their daughter away to protect her, and clear their names.