As ‘NCIS’ Nears the 500-Episode Mark, the Long-Running Crime Procedural’s Future Has Been Decided

CBS has officially renewed NCIS for Season 23, ensuring the show remains in its Monday 9 p.m. ET primetime slot for the 2025–26 season. The renewal was announced in February 2025 while Season 22 was still airing, and it was described as a “no‑brainer” due to strong ratings and streaming performance. The show continues to draw over 10 million total views per episode, making renewal an easy decision. SoapCentral+15IMDb+15People.com+15SoapCentral+1IMDb+1


📅 Milestone in Sight: What 500 Episodes Means

With Season 22 wrapping up in May 2025 and 10‑episode Season 21 before that, Season 23 will safely bring the show to around 500 episodes. This marks one of the longest-running scripted dramas on U.S. broadcast television.WikipediaWikipediaSoapCentral


👥 Cast & Structure: Stability Amid Change

Season 23 is expected to feature most of the Season 22 lineup:

  • Gary Cole as Alden Parker (now team lead)

  • Sean Murray (McGee), Wilmer Valderrama (Torres), Katrina Law (Jessica Knight), Brian Dietzen (Palmer), Diona Reasonover, Rocky Carroll, and others

No major departures have been confirmed so far. CBS has indicated core characters remain under contract, though Sean Murray has cautioned that “no one is full‑time safe.” IMDb+1IMDb+1IMDb+8SoapCentral+8IMDb+8


🧭 Story Focus: What to Expect in Season 23

Season 22 ended with major fallout:

  • Parker suffers personal loss (his father killed by Carla Morino)

  • Case resolutions involving the Nexus Cartel

  • Internal character dynamics hit turning points

Season 23 is expected to dive deeper into Parker’s grief and leadership evolution while continuing procedural investigations. The full ensemble is set to return, with possible storyline explores around Vance’s potential retirement and McGee’s promotion. Reddit+14SoapCentral+14Reddit+14EW.com


🎬 Franchise Health: Spin-offs Strengthen the Brand

  • NCIS: Origins (prequel starring young Gibbs)—renewed

  • NCIS: Sydney—renewed for Season 3

  • NCIS: Tony & Ziva—streaming spinoff arriving September 4, 2025

These additions reinforce the franchise’s strength and ensure NCIS remains central to CBS’s programming strategy.IMDb+8Wikipedia+8Wikipedia+8EW.com+6Wikipedia+6Decider+6Wikipedia+2Wikipedia+2Wikipedia+2What to Watch


✅ Verdict: NCIS’s Long-Term Future Secured

  • Season 23 renewal confirmed

  • Approaching 500 episodes, a rare broadcast milestone

  • Core cast remains, with stable leadership and potential mental/ emotional arcs

  • Spinoff ecosystem continues to diversify the franchise footprint

While creative shifts and cast changes remain possibilities, CBS’s commitment signals no immediate plans to end the flagship—making Season 23 both a milestone and another chapter in a continuing legacy.IMDb+3SoapCentral+3Reddit+3Reddit+2What to Watch+2Wikipedia+2People.com+1Wikipedia+1


🔍 FAQs

1. Is NCIS canceled after Season 22?
No—CBS renewed the series through Season 23 in February 2025, confirming its continuation. The Sun+15SoapCentral+15IMDb+15

2. Will NCIS reach 500 episodes?
Yes. With Seasons 21–23 combined, the show will surpass the 500‑episode threshold. WikipediaWikipediaSoapCentral

3. Is the main cast staying?
Most core cast—including McGee, Torres, Parker, Palmer, and Knight—is expected to return. However, Sean Murray (McGee) has noted that the show is “never a guarantee for anyone.” IMDb+3SoapCentral+3Reddit+3

4. When will Season 23 premiere?
The new season is expected to begin in fall 2025, likely September or October, as part of CBS’s Monday NCIS block.IMDbIMDb

5. What about future spin-offs?
The NCIS universe continues expanding: NCIS: Origins, NCIS: Sydney, and the upcoming NCIS: Tony & Ziva are all part of CBS and Paramount’s multi-platform strategy.

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