Maria Bello is headed to CBS. Today, the network announced the Prime Suspect star has joined season 15 of NCIS.
The long-running crime procedural follows Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon) and his team of special agents as they continue to investigate crimes that involve the US Navy and Marine Corps. The cast also includes Brian Dietzen, David McCallum, Emily Wickersham, Pauley Perrette, Rocky Carroll, Sean Murray, Wilmer Valderrama, Jennifer Esposito, and Duane Henry.
On NCIS, Bello will play “an NCIS agent who was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the army and served two tours in Afghanistan.” Season 15 of NCIS premieres on CBS on September 26th at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
Read more details below:
CBS announced today that Maria Bello has joined the cast of NCIS as a series regular and will be introduced in the season’s fourth episode. The 15th season of NCIS premieres Tuesday, Sept. 26 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT).
Bello will play an NCIS agent who was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the army and served two tours in Afghanistan. After joining NCIS, she built her reputation as the agency’s premier forensic psychologist. Unlike the other agents, she can second guess and challenge Gibbs, so there will be friction but also mutual respect. She is a positive force, mischievous and at times acerbic.
“We have always been big fans of Maria Bello’s work and are excited to be introducing her as an agent who not only has a distinct talent, but also a unique relationship with Gibbs,” said NCIS executive producers George Schenck and Frank Cardea.
Maria Bello has established herself as a leading actress with her many diverse roles in dozens of films, including “The Cooler,” with William H. Macy, which earned her Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations; David Cronenberg’s “A History of Violence,” opposite Viggo Mortensen and Ed Harris, which earned her a NY Film Critics Circle Award and a Golden Globe Award nomination; Oliver Stone’s “World Trade Center”; “Prisoners,” opposite Hugh Jackman; and Paul Haggis’ “Third Person.” Most recently, Bello appeared in the hit James Wan thriller “Lights Out” and the original series “Goliath,” with Billy Bob Thornton and William Hurt.
NCIS stars Mark Harmon, Sean Murray, Emily Wickersham, Pauley Perrette, Wilmer Valderrama, Brian Dietzen, Duane Henry, Rocky Carroll and David McCallum. It is produced by CBS Television Studios.”
What do you think? Do you watch NCIS? Are you excited about the new cast member?
Turnover in an office setting is a fact of life, not an exception. I welcome Jack Sloane as another source of expertise as well a thorn in Gibbs’s side.
Thank goodness Abby will be back. Had heard rumors that she was leaving. Don’t care much for the two newer cast members. Emily Wickersham is an important part of the show as is “Ducky”.
I’ve been a fan of Maria Bello since ER, and never missed an episode of Prime Suspect. I was so unhappy when that show was cancelled. Now I will have a reason to continue watching NCIS. The show is a lot less addictive without Michael Weatherly… really not all that interesting anymore. But with the addition of Ms Bello, I have cause to keep watching it.
If I were you, I’d remove Jennifer Esposito from the list of regulars. Note that CBS’s release didn’t make the same mistake.
Welcome to NCIS