3 Years Later, NCIS’ Bishop Actor Breaks Silence: “A Strange, Unforgettable Exit!
Emily Wickersham reflects on her exit from NCIS three years later. Wickersham joined the cast in season 11 as Eleanor “Ellie” Bishop, an NSA agent who stepped into a joint position with NCIS following Ziva David’s departure. Over her time on the show, Bishop proved herself as a capable agent, playing a central role in numerous dramatic storylines. She left the team in season 18 and has not returned since.
Recently, Wickersham appeared on the Off-Duty: An NCIS Rewatch podcast, hosted by former stars Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo. During the conversation (via CinemaBlend), Wickersham opened up about her departure from NCIS, revealing that it occurred during a transformative period in her life, more significant than she initially realized. Reflecting on that time, Wickersham shared:
“It took a while. I left the show, and I found out I was pregnant a month later… So it was a combination of decompressing and trying to truly relax and figure out how things would be without work. As you both know, when you’re on that show, it’s all-consuming. Your life is all NCIS—all day, every day—leaving little time for much else. That was a real adjustment for me.
It was wild to go into pregnancy, and then I moved to New York shortly after because my boyfriend lives here. It was a weird moment in time. It was wonderful and weird. As you both know, it’s strange to leave something that has been ingrained in you for so many years.
I don’t know if I was necessarily ready, but it happened, and it was amazing. I was ready to leave the show. It was time, and I was ready to move on to something else, and I guess this was the something else I was meant to move on to. So it was good.”
Can Ellie Bishop Ever Return to NCIS?
A Future Spinoff Might Provide the Perfect Opportunity
Bishop’s exit from NCIS was dramatic. Ziva’s surprise return in season 16 brought Bishop into contact with Odette Malone (Elayn J. Taylor), a CIA agent who worked with Ziva on secretive missions. This meeting led to Bishop leaving NCIS to work with Malone on covert operations. To facilitate this transition, Bishop had to discredit herself by revealing that she had leaked NSA secrets, making her ineligible to continue as an NCIS agent. Presumably, she has been engaged in crucial missions ever since.
Given her tarnished reputation, it seems unlikely that Bishop would return to NCIS in a formal capacity. However, Wickersham’s return is still possible. Bishop could make a secretive visit to DC to pass on critical information or to reconnect with her former teammates. She had strong bonds with both Gibbs (Mark Harmon) and Torres (Wilmer Valderrama). While Gibbs is no longer with the team, Torres remains, and their relationship, which ended on a bittersweet note with a kiss just before she left, could use some closure.
Though Bishop and Torres acknowledged their feelings for each other, they never became a proper couple.
However, the main NCIS show might not be the best place for Bishop’s return. With Weatherly and de Pablo set to lead their own show, NCIS: Tony & Ziva on Paramount+, which follows their characters on the run in Europe, Bishop’s expertise as a covert operative and her connection to Odette could make her a valuable ally. She might provide crucial intel or even offer a safe house. Wickersham’s recent appearance on the NCIS podcast indicates that she hasn’t entirely distanced herself from the franchise, suggesting that there could still be a future for Bishop.
