The Hollywood Reporter released a comprehensive oral history celebrating “NCIS’s” 20th anniversary, which included interviews with significant producers and directors narrating pivotal moments in the program’s evolution.
At one point Glenn Geller, who worked as a CBS executive and producer between 2009 and 2019, brought up the departure of Michael Weatherly, who played Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo. Weatherly debuted as his “NCIS” character in the series’ pilot episode and remained a core cast member through the end of Season 13 . As it turns out, he landed his part in “Bull” just afterward at least in part because of Geller’s interest in continuing to work with Weatherly after he decided to leave “NCIS.”
“When Michael Weatherly left, my entire goal was to get him to stay on CBS, and I did,” Geller said. “I was thrilled because I knew America loved DiNozzo, and I wanted him to be a part of ‘Bull.'”
The pilot episode of “Bull,” starring Weatherly as its titular character, premiered on September 20, 2016, roughly four months after his final “NCIS” appearance in May of that year. Geller’s desire to keep working with Weatherly after his “NCIS” exit, then, manifested just about as fast as humanly possible taking into account how long it takes to start producing a new TV show.
Michael Weatherly’s post-NCIS career was complicated by allegations from a former co-star
After “NCIS,” Michael Weatherly maintained a working relationship with CBS, per Glenn Geller’s wishes, through the six seasons of “Bull” that aired between 2016 and 2022. During the show’s first few seasons he periodically appeared on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and “The Late Late Show with James Corden,” both of which air on CBS as well.
However, Weatherly’s former “Bull” co-star Eliza Dushku made a grave claim that affected his career following “NCIS.” She said that Weatherly repeatedly made inappropriate sexual remarks to her during a talk one day on set. She went on to say that CBS dismissed her from the show in reprisal for confronting Weatherly.
The incident was reported by the New York Times, and it describes how Dushku and the network eventually settled for a payout that is equal to his salary for four seasons. Meanwhile, Weatherly personally apologized to Dushku in a letter to the magazine. After all of this was discovered, the television division of Steven Spielberg’s company Amblin withdrew from the development of the show.
After the conclusion of “Bull” in May of 2022, Weatherly has yet to officially confirm any subsequent TV or film roles.