'NCIS' stars Cote de Pablo and Michael Weatherly on 'emotional' 'Tony & Ziva' reunion
NCIS special agent Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) and former Mossad operative Ziva David (Cote de Pablo) continue their on-again, off-again fan-favorite romance in the Paramount+ spinoff 'NCIS: Tony & Ziva' (streaming weekly on beginning Sept. 4.) The stars and executive producer John McNamara debuted a new trailer as well as the first 10 minutes of the action show during a panel at Comic-Con.
And to remind everyone that the tension-filled, slow-burn relationship that spawned that 'Tiva' nickname is still very much a thing, they handed out 'Tiva Forever' caps to everyone in attendance.
'We manifested this,' de Pablo, 45, said of the spinoff. 'We talked about it for a very long time until a lot of people who made this happen actually came together and destiny played its part. And it happened.'
The new series catches up with Tony and Ziva in Paris, living separate lives as they parent their daughter Tali (Isla Gie). When Tony's security firm is framed for a cyberattack, they make sure Tali's in good hands and go on a globe-trotting adventure to clear their names while on the run from Interpol.
McNamara was an 'instant yes' to work on the show, but then he found out that they'd be going 'through every single country in Europe. Who would be dumb enough to pay for that?'
Weatherly jumped in: 'Paramount+!'
Sneak peek: 'Tony & Ziva' first photos: See 'NCIS' couple in Europe with their daughter Tali
During their 'NCIS' years together, 'we all played. We were allowed to be child-like. But we found a sense of fun that was wonderful,' de Pablo said. "What we got to do again in Europe was a chance to play. It was very emotional, to be fair. You're going back to play with someone you've got that chemistry with.'
And they've always had it. When de Pablo joined 'NCIS' for Season 3 in 2005, 'it was a thing right from the jump. You were very special,' Weatherly said.
'The instant we met, we gelled,' de Pablo added, 'but it wasn't out of 'On my God, I love this person.' Then it was tension all the time and I love you for it?'
'I love you but I hate you but I love you but I hate you,' Weatherly, 57, said both actors say. 'As characters. But in real life,' I love you.''
'I love you, too,' de Pablo replied, smiling.
The actors talked a lot during the pandemic about life and potentially working together again on a spinoff, and Weatherly wondered if they'd have the same chemistry. 'The characters have gone through life and it's made them more complex," he said. 'The first scene (of the spinoff), we finished and both took a step toward each other. We locked eyes and I went, 'Yeah, we're back.''
'NCIS' continues to be an A-list TV brand, whether it's people binging the original 'mothership' CBS show (returning for Season 23 Oct. 14) for the first time or watching its spinoffs. 'It was always about family,' dePablo explained of its popularity. Plus, 'it's multigenerational,' Weatherly added. 'Whole sorority houses would watch it while eating funny brownies.'
'Tony & Ziva,' though, is 'an epic love story that's not yet been resolved,' de Pablo said.
And, says Weatherly, 'It's not a 'will they or won't they.' It's a 'when they.' '
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