After seven action-packed seasons, rumors are swirling that Wilmer Valderrama may be preparing to exit NCIS — and fans are bracing for heartbreak.
His character, Nick Torres, has grown from a cocky lone wolf to a trusted team member with emotional depth, painful secrets, and a fan-favorite bromance with McGee. But with Valderrama now juggling several outside projects — including executive producing a Zorro reboot — fans are questioning how long he’ll stay.
Valderrama has remained vague but emotional in recent interviews:
“Torres has meant everything to me,” he said. “I’ve put my heart into him. Wherever he goes next… it’ll be earned.”
This season has leaned heavily into Torres’ trauma and past demons — including the return of his abusive father and his growing emotional instability. Many are reading these storylines as a possible send-off.
Still, nothing is confirmed — and NCIS producers are known for twists. Could Torres go rogue and return later? Could he get his own spin-off? Whatever happens, fans agree: Nick Torres helped define the post-Gibbs era, and NCIS won’t be the same without him.
