Tobias Fornell is officially returning to NCIS for a major storyline tied to the upcoming milestone episode. Joe Spano, who portrays the beloved FBI agent turned private investigator, was spotted on set with the core team during filming for the special 1,000th-episode arc. His unexpected return brings back an old ally just as Director Vance faces a personal crisis, offering plenty of emotional and investigative depth.

Meanwhile, questions surrounding the fate of NCIS: Los Angeles’s Hetty Lange may finally be answered. Linda Hunt’s character, long absent due to secret assignments and off-screen circumstances, appears poised for a reveal. Rumors point to a crossover moment, perhaps during the next NCIS iteration or in the prequel series. Given Hetty’s significance as a mentor figure, her reappearance would offer closure for fans wondering if she faked her death in Syria or simply vanished from the agency’s radar.

Fans should mark their calendars: the Tobias Fornell-centered storyline is scheduled for mid-season, where he’ll assist the team in navigating a high-stakes case tied to Vance. Simultaneously, hints about Hetty’s fate will ripple through the franchise, possibly unlocking new storylines in both the flagship and spin-off series. These developments promise to deepen the emotional ties between characters and deliver long-awaited answers.

Longtime viewers and new fans alike are in for a treat—NCIS is not just honoring its past with returning favorites, it’s also paving the way for its future by resolving lingering mysteries and reconnecting key players across its shared universe.