NCIS may be one of the longest-running dramas in TV history, but according to cast member Wilmer Valderrama, its final chapter—whenever it comes—will be anything but predictable.
In a candid new interview, Valderrama, who plays Special Agent Nick Torres, revealed that the cast has had ongoing conversations about how the series might end—and hinted that the writers have something deeply emotional in the works.
“If NCIS ends the way they’re planning it,” he said, “no one will be ready. It’s going to hit people hard.”
While CBS has yet to confirm whether Season 22 will be the last, longtime fans know the show can’t go on forever. The departure of major characters like Gibbs, Bishop, and Abby, plus the recent focus on spin-offs like NCIS: Sydney and NCIS: Origins, suggest the original may be approaching its final curtain call.
Valderrama’s comments came just days after castmates Sean Murray (McGee) and Diona Reasonover (Kasie) posted cryptic farewell messages from the set. And in another hint, showrunner Steven D. Binder shared that the upcoming season would “go back to the beginning in ways longtime fans will appreciate.”
Does that mean flashbacks? A surprise Gibbs return? A full-circle moment for the agency? One thing’s for sure—Valderrama’s words weren’t meant lightly.
“When it ends, it won’t be just another season finale,” he said. “It’ll be a moment people remember for years.”
Whatever happens next, NCIS fans should buckle up. The end may be near—and it might just be the most powerful story they’ve told yet.
