After more than 20 years on the air, NCIS has gone through countless cast changes. High-profile exits like Gibbs, Ziva, Tony, and Abby have been endlessly dissected — but Emily Wickersham’s departure as Ellie Bishop has often flown under the radar.
Bishop joined the series in Ziva’s wake, transitioning from the NSA to NCIS with guidance from McGee, Gibbs, and DiNozzo. Over time, she evolved into a core member of the team and one of Gibbs’ most trusted protégés.
That’s why her sudden 2021 exit shocked fans. Bishop left NCIS to train for a deep-cover, long-term undercover mission — and she hasn’t been seen since. Until now.
Season 23 Hints at Ellie Bishop’s Return
Excitement spiked when Sean Murray teased that season 23 would feature a “familiar face… who hasn’t been seen in a very long time.” He didn’t name names, but CBS later released the synopsis for the midseason finale, titled “Heaven and Nature.”
The episode follows Knight on her first mission with NCIS: Elite, tasked with tracking down a former team member. While several past agents could fit the description, Bishop’s unresolved undercover storyline makes her the strongest and most logical possibility.
Off-Screen Clues Add More Fuel
Adding to the speculation, NCIS: Origins co-showrunner David J. North shared photos in October of Emily Wickersham visiting him at Paramount. While Origins is a prequel and unlikely to feature Bishop, the timing of the visit raised eyebrows.
Taken together, the season’s narrative clues and Wickersham’s recent NCIS-related appearance suggest one thing: Ellie Bishop’s story may not be over yet. If she does return, it would mark the comeback of the last agent Gibbs truly mentored.