Beloved NCIS alum Cote de Pablo has confirmed that she is not returning to the CBS series to shoot scenes for Michael Weatherly‘s upcoming final episode. De Pablo reportedly shared the news during an appearance at Babson College in Wellesley, Mass., as part of a post-screening Q&A about her film The 33.
#CotedePablo confirmed that she WON'T be back on #NCIS as Ziva David for Dinozzo's @M_Weatherly final episode.
— Cote de Pablo ES (@CotedePabloES) April 24, 2016
In previewing original cast member Weatherly’s farewell storyline/final episode (airing May 17), NCIS showrunner Gary Glasberg has only ever indicated that former team member Ziva David would merit a mention. “You can’t have Tony leave the show and not get into that in some respect,” he told TVLine last month, “so plan on it being discussed and handled, even if it’s in background.”
During the Sunday Q&A, de Pablo opened up about some frustrations with TV’s most watched drama — which she abruptly parted ways with at the start of Season 11, after her contract expired — and scripts “not being good enough,” as seen in the first fan video below. “I spent eight years crafting this character and loving her, so when I perceived the character wasn’t being treated with the respect she deserved… all the money in the world [can’t change that].”
Elsewhere in the discussion, de Pablo said she remains “very close” with Weatherly, adding: “One of the greatest things about my job is that every once in a while you meet people and say, ‘They’re going to be in my life forever,’ and I think he’s one of them.”
