'NCIS' season 24 teases major cast shake-up after explosive finale cliffhanger

Fans can expect some big changes when NCIS returns for season 24.

After a dramatic season 23 finale that left viewers questioning the future of several characters, star Wilmer Valderrama has teased that significant cast changes are on the way.

While remaining careful not to reveal spoilers, the actor hinted that the long-running CBS procedural is preparing for a major overhaul.

Valderrama suggested that the upcoming season will feature both "major changes" and "major additions," signaling that new faces could soon arrive at the Navy Yard. His comments have fueled speculation that the series may be expanding its ensemble cast or introducing key characters to fill leadership roles left vacant by recent events.

The shake-up follows one of the show's most emotional seasons yet. Season 23 saw the death of longtime NCIS director Leon Vance, creating a power vacuum within the agency. At the same time, the finale ended on a tense cliffhanger involving Timothy McGee's son Mateo and a confrontation with Nick Torres that culminated in a gunshot.

Although producers have already indicated that the shooting will not result in a major character death, the aftermath is expected to have significant consequences heading into the new season.

The possibility of new additions comes at a pivotal time for the series. Since the departure of Mark Harmon as Leroy Jethro Gibbs, NCIS has been steadily building a new era around Alden Parker and the current team. Season 24 may represent the next major phase in that transition as the show looks toward its future.

With leadership questions unresolved, new characters potentially joining the fold, and lingering fallout from the finale, NCIS appears poised for one of its biggest resets in years.