NCIS season 17, episode 21 is eagerly awaited by fans of the CBS show. But when does NCIS return for a new outing on CBS and are there more episode in the current series?
NCIS fans will remember how the 17th season was cut short after the outbreak of coronavirus COVID-19 shut down television production on the CBS show. This has left fans wondering when the show will be returning with new episodes of the crime procedural and if there is another outing for season 17 left to air. Express.co.uk has everything you need to know.
When does NCIS return?
Season 17 of NCIS ended early before its final four episodes could be completed when production shut down in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
This means the de facto season finale of the show was episode 20, which aired back on April 14.
Called The Arizona, viewers will remember it saw the team attempting to prove the truth about a Pearl Harbor veteran.
As a result of the shorter season, fans have been eager to know when the final episodes of the show will be released.
CBS has confirmed they will not be broadcast as part of season 17 but will instead be incorporated into season 18.
NCIS has been renewed for a groundbreaking 18th outing already and it is due to return in the autumn.
According to the network, the show will be back in its usual Tuesday evening time slot when it returns later this year.
An exact date has not been given but it is expected premiere in September, as this is when previous seasons have launched.
For instance, season 17 began airing on September 24, 2019 and season 16 on September 25, 2018.
The showrunners have also confirmed the original episode 21 of season 17 will be filmed as planned when they return to production.
Speaking to TV Line, Frank Cardea said: “Episode 21 was two days away from production.
“The sets are built and now locked up in our stages, the locations were pulled, the actors had been cast.
“That’s probably what we will shoot first [whenever production resumes].”
As well as this, Cardea confirmed they will be proceeding with episode 22 as planned as well.
This is because this marks the 400th episode of the CBS procedural and Cardea has revealed they plan to show it as episode two of season 18.
He also gave a hint about the original season 17 finale of the show, and what will happen to the intended conclusion.
Cardea told the publication: “The envisioned season finale did not have a cliffhanger ending but was planned to have a very surprising ending.
“More of a reveal/development, as you phrased it. We do plan to go forward with that episode in the early part of season 18, but will probably reevaluate the ending when the time comes.”
There has been no clear date revealed yet about when filming will resume for season 18.
However, it is expected to be back in action towards the end of the summer as lockdown eases in California.
NCIS season 18 is expected to air later in 2020.