A lot of newcomers will be joining "NCIS" season 14 as the series officially begins its first post-Michael Weatherly era. Despite this big shift, showrunner Gary Glasberg assures the show will not feel different.
"I was intent on focusing on proving to people that it's the same show that they've always watched, just with some new faces," he revealed to TV Line.
Glasberg was referring to the three characters set to become the newest members of the team in "NCIS" season 14. First is Special Agent Alex Quinn who is portrayed by Jennifer Esposito.
Quinn is someone that Agent Gibbs (Mark Harmon) will look at as Agent Tony DiNozzo's (Weatherly) potential replacement. Unfortunately for him, it will take a lot of convincing.
Quinn wants to stick with being an instructor at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center or FLETC, but with Gibbs intent to have her on board, it looks like she will take the job eventually as "NCIS" season 14 progresses.
The other newcomer is Agent Nick Torres, who will be given life by Wilmer Valderrama. Glasberg says that the character will be officially added to the team "by the end of the show."
This means that Gibbs might have to work his way through this one as well. Torres comes back from an undercover mission and was gone for a long period of time, leading his co-workers to believe he was dead.
Valderrama has said in the past that his character and Gibbs will often clash come "NCIS" season 14. This is partly because, when he returns, Torres is not exactly the same man who left.
He will have some serious trouble working with a team as he got used to working by himself in the past years. However, in an interview with The Wrap, Valderrama said that, despite Torres butting heads with Gibbs, the latter will still see potential in him.
"He suffers from a little bit of post-traumatic stress and is having a rough time of it. Nonetheless, Mark Harmon's character sees something unique in him and thinks he can be a real asset to the team," the actor said.
The third newcomer is not exactly new since he already showed up at the season 13 finale. MI6 officer Clayton Reeves, played by Duane Henry, will be back in episode 5 of "NCIS" season 14 to become an official part of the team as well.
"NCIS" season 14 premieres on Tuesday, Sept. 20, at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.
