NCIS season 22 release date, cast, storyline, trailer release, and everything you need to know
After over 20 seasons on the air, NCIS shows no signs of slowing down. The immensely popular procedural drama continues to draw in millions of viewers each week with its compelling blend of crime cases, team dynamics, and personal storylines. As season 21 wraps up, fans are already looking ahead to the recently announced NCIS season 22.
NCIS has been a pillar of CBS’s primetime lineup since its debut in 2003 as a spin-off from JAG. What started as a relatively modest crime show has evolved into a global franchise encompassing multiple spin-off series. At its core, NCIS still follows the skilled agents of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service as they investigate crimes involving the United States Navy and Marine Corps. While the series has undergone some major cast shakeups over the years, its fundamental appeal remains intact.
NCIS Season 22 Release Date:
CBS has yet to announce an official premiere date for NCIS season 22. However, based on the show’s traditional fall rollout, we can reasonably expect the new season to debut in late September or early October 2024. NCIS has long held the coveted post-Monday Night Football time slot, airing new episodes from the fall through the spring.
If it follows the schedule of recent seasons, NCIS season 22 will likely consist of around 20–24 episodes and run through May 2025. The series remains a strong ratings performer for CBS, so the network has no incentive to deviate from its successful release strategy.
NCIS Series Storyline Overview:
At its core, NCIS is a classic police procedural that follows a team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Led by the enigmatic and experienced Leroy Jethro Gibbs for nearly two decades, the NCIS team investigates crimes involving members of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.
While the cases themselves drive much of the episode-to-episode storylines, NCIS has also developed deep personal arcs for its core characters over the years. We’ve seen marriages, divorces, additions to the team, tragic deaths, and shocking betrayals. This careful balance of investigating intricate crimes while also exploring the personal lives and relationships of the agents is a huge part of the show’s appeal.
The first several seasons centered around Gibbs and his tight-knit team, which included Tony DiNozzo, Timothy McGee, Abby Sciuto, Donald “Ducky” Mallard, and others. In later years, the series has welcomed fresh faces like Nick Torres, Ellie Bishop, Jacqueline Sloane, and Jessica Knight while also saying goodbye to beloved members of the original cast.
NCIS Season 22 Expected Storyline:
NCIS season 22’s plot details are currently under strict confidentiality. However, the season 21 finale set up some potential storylines that could carry over into the new season. One major cliffhanger was Jessica Knight’s decision to accept a job offer across the country, potentially leaving the team. We still don’t know if Jessica Knight’s character will leave or manage to stay in Washington, D.C.
We’ll also likely see further exploration of the mysterious “Lily,” a girl Alden Parker hallucinated about and seemed to have a connection to from his past. The relative darkness of Parker’s backstory and personal life could potentially reveal new facets to his character.
Beyond that, NCIS season 22 will undoubtedly deliver more high-stakes cases that test the agents’ skills and stomachs as they investigate everything from murders and national security threats to crimes against Navy and Marines members. Developing the team dynamics and personal lives of characters like McGee, Torres, and Vance will also likely take center stage.
NCIS Series list of Cast Members:
- Sean Murray as Timothy McGee
- Wilmer Valderrama as Nick Torres
- Brian Dietzen as Jimmy Palmer
- Diona Reasonover as Kasie Hines
- Katrina Law as Jessica Knight
- Rocky Carroll as Leon Vance
- Gary Cole as Alden Parker
- Mark Harmon as Leroy Jethro Gibbs
- Michael Weatherly as Tony DiNozzo
- Cote de Pablo as Ziva David
- Pauley Perrette as Abby Sciuto
- David McCallum as Donald “Ducky” Mallard
NCIS Season 22 List of Episodes:
CBS has not yet announced the episode titles and plots for NCIS season 22. Most seasons of NCIS consist of around 20–24 episodes. As soon as we reveal episode details closer to the premiere, we’ll update this section.
- Episode No. 1: “Algún Día”
- Episode No. 2: “The Stories We Leave Behind”
- Episode No. 3: “Lifeline”
- Episode No. 4: “Left Unsaid”
- Episode No. 5: “The Plan”
- Episode No. 6: “Strange Invaders”
- Episode No. 7: “A Thousand Yards”
- Episode No. 8: “Heartless”
- Episode No. 9: “Prime Cut”
- Episode No. 10: “Reef Madness”
NCIS Series Creators Team:
Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill, who had previously collaborated on shows such as Magnum P.I., Airwolf, and Quantum Leap, created NCIS. Bellisario initially conceived NCIS as a spin-off from his series JAG after introducing the characters in two episodes during JAG’s 8th season.
Bellisarius Productions and CBS Studios produce the series, with Bellisario, Steven D. Binder, Chas. Floyd Johnson, and Mark Harmon serving as executive producers over the years. Key writers who have shaped NCIS’s storytelling include showrunners like Shane Brennan, Gary Glasberg, Frank Cardea, and George Schenck.
Where to Watch NCIS Season 22?
When it premieres in fall 2024, new episodes of NCIS season 22 will air weekly on CBS’s flagship broadcast channel. This makes it accessible to viewers with a basic cable or satellite television subscription or an HD antenna for receiving local channels.
For cord-cutters, several live TV streaming services like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and FuboTV also carry CBS in their channel lineups and will have NCIS season 22 available to stream live.
Previous seasons of NCIS are available to stream on-demand with a Paramount+ subscription, including the ad-supported Essential plan or the ad-free Premium tier. This makes it easy to catch up before season 22.
NCIS Season 22 Trailer Release Date:
CBS traditionally releases trailers and sneak peeks for new NCIS seasons in the late summer, roughly 4-6 weeks before the premiere date. To help build anticipation, fans should expect an NCIS season 22 trailer to arrive sometime in August or early September 2024.
These trailers tend to offer brief glimpses at the characters, tease potential storylines, highlight intense action sequences, and give an overall tone for the upcoming season. Teasers and additional promotional videos usually follow in the weeks leading up to the season premiere as well.
NCIS Season 22 Final Words:
After more than 20 years on the air, NCIS remains one of television’s biggest hits and most consistent performers. The series has weathered major cast exits, created successful spin-offs, and cultivated a massively loyal fanbase over the decades. As it heads into season 22, NCIS shows no signs of slowing down its momentum anytime soon.
While plot details are scarce, audiences can expect the new season to deliver more of the explosive cases, intense action sequences, and rich personal storytelling that have made NCIS so beloved. With a talented veteran cast and crew at the helm, season 22 is poised to take viewers on another riveting journey into the high-stakes world of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
No matter what twists and turns lie ahead, NCIS continues to raise the bar for what a successful, long-running procedural drama can accomplish on network television. Fans should start gearing up for another suspenseful, thrilling season of must-see TV.
