After 20 years, Michael Weatherly confirms what has always been inevitable to happen in NCIS: Tony & Ziva. A decade since he left the NCIS franchise, the actor is coming back as Tony DiNozzo Jr. and reuniting with Cote de Pablo’s Ziva David. Instead of coming back to the flagship series, however, they are spearheading their own TV show.
During NCIS: Tony & Ziva‘s San Diego Comic-Con 2025 panel, which ScreenRant is in attendance, Weatherly confirms that despite the characters not being together when the show starts, they will eventually decide to be a couple.
“It’s not a will they/won’t they…it’s a WHEN will they?”
What This Means For NCIS: Tony & Ziva’s Story
FINALLY!
As confirmed by the new NCIS: Tony & Ziva trailer, the pair won’t officially be together when the show starts. Even Tali seems confused by their dynamic, considering that she has to ask her parents about their relationship status. Sadly, the promo clip doesn’t answer the question, but Weatherly’s promise is exciting.
It’s worth noting that both Weatherly and de Pablo are producers of NCIS: Tony & Ziva. This gives a bigger creative role than just starring in the show, as it means that they have a say on how their characters’ story will progress in the series. Given this, fans can hold onto Weatherly’s promise about the pair’s future.
The actor confirming this allows the discussion around the series to move forward from whether they’ll be together to when they will actually be together. Considering how long their slow-burn romance has been, it’s a much more interesting discussion to be had.
Our Take On Tony & Ziva’s Relationship Status In The Spinoff
They Need To Sort Things Out Sooner Rather Than Later

Admittedly, it’s disappointing to learn that Tony and Ziva are still not officially together in their spinoff. At this point, nothing is really blocking their way in terms of moving forward with their romance. Additionally, both of them should know better than to waste more time staying in this limbo state.
The good news is that NCIS: Tony & Ziva having fewer episodes means that it won’t be too long of a wait for them to finally sit down and decide on what they want to be. Tali is growing up, and it’s unfair to her that her parents can’t seem to find a way to seriously talk about their feelings.