How Will ‘NCIS’ Replace Vance in Season 24?
Preview
What To Know
- Following Director Vance’s death, NCIS has not permanently filled the director role.
- Executive producer Steven D. Binder explains why that is and what’s next.
NCIS shocked fans by killing off Director Leon Vance (Rocky Carroll) in the 500th episode. In the rest of Season 23, an interim director filled that open position at the agency and was never seen. But, as the finale revealed, LaRoche (Seamus Dever), the former deputy director and now U.S. associate attorney general, seems to have his eye on the seat with a very pointed look in its direction in a conversation in the office with Parker (Gary Cole). So, does that mean that he could be the next director, at least temporarily?
Well, for now, it doesn’t sound like there are any plans to fill that spot permanently, based on what executive producer Steven D. Binder told TV Insider after the Season 23 finale. The reason that Vance lasted as long as he did, 18 seasons, is “a testament to Rocky Carroll,” he said.
Binder pointed out that at the beginning of the series, the director of the agency wasn’t a series regular Alan Dale recurred as Tom Morrow, appearing in seven episodes across the first three seasons. In fact, he appeared in the same number of episodes after he’d left the position, in Seasons 10-13.
“The structure of the show didn’t really support [the director being a] regular fixture,” Binder explained. “Sure, if you want to do the cliche thing where the boss is telling you, ‘Speed up the case,’ or ‘SecNav’s leaning down my neck,’ or things like that. But we skipped by those sort of classic, and by classic, I don’t mean great, types of storytelling. And I think that partially is responsible for some of the early success of NCIS, is we just didn’t do things the regular way. So the role of the director was not necessarily supposed to be all there all the time.”
After Morrow came Jenny Shepard (Lauren Holly), who also had a past with Gibbs (Mark Harmon). She was a regular for three seasons before being killed off. “She was fantastic, but it was just very difficult to write that character in, which is why we wrote her off partially,” said the EP.
After Jenny came Vance, and Carroll was initially not going to be a series regular. “We were going to use a director sporadically and sparingly when we felt like we needed it here and there. And what ended up happening was Rocky was just such a fantastic actor and such a great guy to work with that he just ended up being in the show more and more. Even though structurally, it still sometimes was difficult to find a novel and interesting place for a supervisor to show up, because that’s really what he was. He was a supervisor. He wasn’t really doing the work. And sometimes we did episodes that were all about him, and those were some of our best episodes. But as a supervisor character, that’s not necessarily great storytelling,” Binder shared.
“So, when Rocky exited the show, we weren’t feeling like, ‘My gosh, we need to get a manager back in here. We need to get that supervisor character back in here.’ Unless there’s a strong reason to do it, again, we’ve been letting the stories dictate where we go with the director chair,” he continued. “And other than playing the loss of Vance, and that sort of has given us some things to play about, OK, what’s going to happen now? The idea that we all landed on and gravitated to is we want to address that because we have to, and then we want to get back to telling stories with our core four [Parker, Sean Murray‘s McGee, Katrina Law‘s Knight, and Wilmer Valderrama‘s Torres] and Kasie [Diona Reasonover] and Jimmy Palmer [Brian Dietzen] down in autopsy and telling the best stories we can there. And that usually doesn’t mean involving a supervisor.”
So, for now, they’re going to see how it goes for Season 24. That could very well include what’s going on with LaRoche.
“We’ve sort of played this game with him a little more than — he’s fantastic, too, by the way — we’d initially intended. And I think that’s also because when we’re looking for stories to tell,” Binder said, noting at the time that the writers were on hiatus, so they haven’t started breaking next season’s stories. “But I think we’re going to play out his story probably once and for all in regards to his designs, and then we’ll see where that lands us. The designs are what is the best story. … I think one of the other secrets to our success is we don’t make these grand decisions upfront and then try and service them because sometimes, and oftentimes, and most of the times, things just want to go a certain way. And if you’ve already decided you’re going to do this, it handcuffs you, and then you can’t go off in interesting and surprising ways.”
What are you hoping to see when it comes to the agency’s director next season? Let us know in the comments section below.
NCIS, Season 24, Fall 2026, Tuesdays, 8/7c, CBS
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Conversation40 Comments
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S
Please do not bring LaRoche on as the director. As an actor on Castle, he did quite well. As an actor on NCIS, his character can't be redeemed. Unlikeable and not trustworthy.
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D
I don't think putting LaRoche in the director's seat would be a good idea, not even temporarily, story telling wise, as he is now openly adversarial to the team, and the team is the "leading character" of the show. You can't work effectively if you are fighting your boss, and he would have the power to break the team up --and if he were smart that's exactly what he'd do. So, that's a no-go. Likewise to putting McGee in charge, as that takes him out of the team, and since the show runners have expressed a desire to go back to making the director a basically invisible cog in the machine, we'd never see McGee. Since we love McGee, he has to stay with the team. So the ideal would be to have a series of episodes with a parade of new interim directors making routine casework more difficult, then settling on a permanent replacement who is seldom seen or heard from.
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P
Definitely not LaRoche! LeRoche is an okay protagonist but he is not likeable character.
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G
I feel like he's not really looking to honor Leon's legacy and that he might have a secret agenda...
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D
As everyone agrees below, PLEASE do not fill Director position with LaRoche! Not at all likeable and certainly does not fit in! It will be very hard to remain a life long fan.
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L
please do not have the character Laroche take over. I will stop watching
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L
Another NO to LaRoche. Maybe move Parker to the upstairs office, make Magee-the-tech-savvy-guy the team leader, and bring in a new 'probie'...
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S
Loved Vance’s character and thought it was a mistake to get rid of him. It definitely shouldn’t be LaRoche. If anything they should get rid of him somehow, some way. If he becomes director I will stop watching.
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G
Killing Vance off without taking his relationship with Lena Paulsen (who was last seen in Season 22, Episode 2) into consideration was a big mistake; especially since there was also no indication on how she reacted to his death.
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S
Since it may be on again Off again, & he's older Let Gibbs handle it
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W
Please, not LaRoche! Who can trust him?
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G
No one; he might end up being just as bad as that former NCIS guy from Season 8; I think his name was Riley McCallister
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O
I think Magee should be the new director of NICS
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J
Watched for 23 years and if they bring Laroach in as director won’t even watch it anymore. Yea I spelt name wrong for purpose.
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G
I do NOT want LaRoche to become the next permanent NCIS director because he's indicated that he might go after Parker; which means Parker needs to hide the fact that he was involved in the death of the former Army CID director. Also, with the situation regarding McGee's son, Mateo, I'm concerned that LaRoche will find out about it and use it against McGee somehow...
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H
No director for the foreseeable future
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M
If you put LaRoche it is not a good idea. He been hate by lots of people. He is not honest he a brown-noser. We all talk about quitting watching the show if La Roche come on the show has director. DONT BRING HIM HAS DIRECTOR
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G
I for one hope they will consider Michael Weatherly as the new head of NCIS. He's free from contracts, his character would be a perfect fit and, his charisma will undoubtedly lift the program! As a plus, they could bring back Ziva when and if they wanted to. So, think about it CBS!
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S
I think that you should bring Tony Dinozzo in as the director he would be good and thwy all vibe off each other well.
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W
Best idea yet!
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J
i want to see Harriet Parker. She's leaving the Navy, right? but has leadership and won't that be good for storied for Alden to have to report to his sister?
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C
Go back to the roots. Harmon T. Rabb, Ret US Navy, is hired as the new NCIS Director.
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C
I think Jane Tennant should be the next Director or even Dwayne Pride! Let be real not McGee.
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D
I don't like LaRoche I hope you don't keep him. He is not a good fit.
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S
It'd be sweet if DiNozzo was the next director
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B
Definitely not laRoche! Not at all likable!
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A
I agree NOT Laroche. Too much messy story lines already surrond him. As long as it's an on and off appearance role brig back Gibbs as director for this season then at the end of the season have him retire and promote McGee.
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D
LaRoche should not be considered. On the other hand, through the miracle of TV, Mr Carroll (Director Vance) could be resuscitated and eventually, allow him to continue as Chief. Yes, he had a bulletproof vest but the bullet speezed via??? and the Director's surviaval was kept under wraps until complete recovery reason why NO one had become Chief. Do not destroy what has become part of the viewer's life !!!
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D
On TV, anything goes. Mr Carroll was a well like member of the NCIS cast. Whose idea was to kill him out? Via the miracle of TV, bring him back. He had a bullet proof jacket but the bullet was able to reach the actual body and for safety's reason, while he recovered, he was not on his Chair as NCIS Honcho and his enemies were told he was dead!!!. But for the new season, his abscence is explained and he's now fully RECOVERED and able to take over as head of the Branch. BRING HIM BACK !!!! We, the viewers would love to see him back !!!
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D
Cannot stand LaRoche. Bring someone else in.
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S
Best idea yet!
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J
When they teased a ‘come back’ character they might not necessarily mean a ‘regular’ past character… how about Knights’ father? Back story wise he’s qualified for the job as he was in charge of the east Asia field office
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A
Please NOT Michael Weatherly
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S
how about Mark Harmon as the director?
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C
Vance trusted McGee to fill in for him as a temporary director in his absence when Vance and Parker went to Berlin, and when he was shot. My best guess is McGee will get the job.
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J
I think they should bring in Scott Bakula from NCIS New Orleans to replace Vance. He would be perfect for the role and he would add another dimension for the Director's role.
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D
What if Gimmi new cast costum red and gold singing I'm living on a jet plane jets up plane iron man
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G
The Job Should go to Mc Gee
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T
I think LaRoche for a short time so the team can get him in jail where he belongs. Then someone along the lines of Tom Morrow would be a great idea. If you are doing your job. ( You do not need your supervisor in your face unless you need his help, or he has a reason to call you on the carpet, or clearing the way with other agency's.) Our team is very good at their jobs.
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D
Since the role as Director is little used, I would be fine with Parker stepping into that role, but would like to see more of him.
McGee could step into Parkers old role as team leader, which would help prepare him more as the next Director.
And please, Please, PLEASE bring back Director Vances DAUGHTER, seen in a recent episode, as a new team member. I think she'd be PERFECT!
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