Why NCIS Producers Don’t Rule Out Scott Bakula’s Return As Agent Dwayne Pride.

In the NCIS universe, family is at the core, whether it’s the tight-knit team supporting each other or the romantic relationships blossoming among colleagues. Over the years, these individual families have intertwined, with characters from various NCIS spin-offs meeting, bonding, and sometimes reuniting after time and distance. Notably, characters from concluded and canceled installments have made comebacks, like Sam Hanna (LL Cool J) becoming a semi-regular on “NCIS: Hawai’i.”

Considering this interconnectedness, the possibility of characters like “NCIS: New Orleans” lead Dwayne “King” Cassius Pride (Scott Bakula) appearing on another show within the franchise has been raised. CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach and CBS Studios President David Stapf told Deadline that such crossovers are plausible if the writers conceive a compelling idea that fits organically into the storyline.

Stapf emphasized the importance of the idea feeling authentic rather than being a mere stunt, stating, “If any of the writers have a good idea, and it feels organic, and more on story and [makes] sense versus just doing it to do a stunt, sure, we are open to it.” Reisenbach echoed this sentiment, highlighting the welcoming nature of the NCIS family and citing instances like “NCIS: Los Angeles” star Daniela Ruah returning to direct several franchise installments.

While Scott Bakula hasn’t expressed his stance on a potential return, he has been candid about the mixed emotions surrounding the conclusion of “NCIS: New Orleans.” Nonetheless, Stapf and Reisenbach remain receptive to the idea of spin-offs featuring other characters within the expansive NCIS universe.