‘NCIS’ Season 16 Air Date, Spoilers: Cast Changes Revealed as Filming Resumes with Mark Harmon

“NCIS” season 16 is returning to CBS despite the cancellation rumors that swirled when the previous season ended. This was probably because two of the original characters already left the show. But worry not for the series has been confirmed for another season.

Confirmed Cast Lineup: Who Are They?

“NCIS” season 16 will continue with Mark Harmon still in the cast. He will be reprising his role as Leroy Jethro Gibbs while CBS affirmed that Pauley Perrette is now out of the picture and will be leaving her role as Abby Sciuto.

Harmon signed another two-year contract with CBS. This is his third deal with the network and it means he will still be the series’s lead star and executive producer.

The deal sealed his status as one of the highest-paid actors on TV. Currently, he is earning around $19 million a year just from “NCIS” alone.

Commenting on the casting of the veteran actor, CBS Entertainment president Kelly Kahl was quoted by The Hollywood Reporter as saying, “We're thrilled he is returning as the centerpiece of the show, and we could not be more excited for ‘NCIS' 16th season."

Other stars who will be on “NCIS” season 16 include David McCallum (Dr. Donald Mallard), Rocky Carroll (Leon Vance), Sean Murray (Timothee McGee), Emily Wickersham (Eleanor Bishop), Brian Dietzen (Dr. Jimmy Palmer) and Maria Bello (Dr. Jacqueline Sloane). All of them are resuming work with the same roles as before. And while no additional cast was ever mentioned, there are rumors that Kasie Hines, played by Diona Reasonover, is likely to replace Abby Sciuto in the 16th season of the show.

Release Date

“NCIS” season 16 was renewed in April but at that time, CBS did not announce the exact date so it was assumed it will return in late September just like its usual schedule. This proved to be correct when NCIS, via Twitter, officially announced that it will premiere on Sept. 25.

Finally, it was revealed some hours ago that filming has begun. On July 16, Dietzen updated his social media account with a message that reads, “Season 16! First day. First scene.”