Fans eagerly anticipated the return of NCIS Season 21, anticipating new twists after two decades of faithful watching. However, the joy was short-lived as major changes are looming in the 2023-24 prime time schedule. Recent developments, including the Writers Guild of America strike and a potential SAG-AFTRA work stoppage, have forced CBS to reconsider its fall schedule.
The ongoing strike has disrupted writer’s room activities, making it challenging for series production and new scripts to adhere to the original timelines. NCIS may be among the shows facing potential delays to avoid production issues. CBS CEO George Cheeks, speaking at a Banff keynote moderated by Deadline’s Peter White, hinted at potential fall 2023 lineup delays, acknowledging the impact of the writers’ strike.
Cheeks detailed CBS’s revised fall scheduling plans, which are expected to focus heavily on reality programming. He mentioned the helpful DGA agreement but highlighted different challenges posed by negotiations with Hollywood guilds and the WGA strike. Expressing hope for compromises, Cheeks emphasized the urgency of resolving issues for studios and creative partners.
Considering the current circumstances, the release of NCIS Season 21 might be postponed to later in 2023 or even 2024. The aim is to resume production promptly upon the resolution of the writer’s strike. Official statements from CBS and the show’s producers will provide updates on the new release date. Until then, fans can only hope for a swift resolution and eagerly await information on NCIS’s return to CBS, whenever that may be, to plan accordingly.