Fall TV Casting Shakeups: Who’s Returning? Who’s Leaving? Who’s New?
With networks looking ahead to the fall 2026 season and some premiere dates already out as well as production starting up on a number of shows, when better to also take a look at the cast changes that are on the horizon?
Between seasons, a few shows have announced some major returns (Michael Weatherly to NCIS and Mark Harmon to NCIS: Origins in a major role, to name a couple), while two Dick Wolf shows will be saying goodbye to an original cast member (Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D.). Plus, there are some new stars joining some of our faves, including Fire Country and 9-1-1: Nashville. Law & Order will be losing a detective but has already cast his replacement.
Below, we’re taking a look at what we know about all these changes, as well as what to expect from the exits or additions. Note: We are not including anyone who was announced to be leaving in the last finale and was already written out (like Kim Raver and Kevin McKidd from Grey’s Anatomy) or who debuted in the previous season but is carrying over into the next (as in Blair Underwood on Doc).
RETURNING: Michael Weatherly, NCIS
Weatherly starred as Tony DiNozzo in the first 13 seasons of the mothership, then returned for a special appearance in Season 21’s tribute to the late David McCallum. He since starred in a one-season spinoff, NCIS: Tony & Ziva, with Cote de Pablo. He’s back for a season-long arc in Season 24, and while details beyond that have yet to be revealed, he has said that it won’t retcon what happened on the Paramount+ series.
RETURNING: Mark Harmon, NCIS: Origins
Yes, he narrates every episode, but in the fall, for all 10 episodes of Season 3, Harmon will be appearing onscreen as Gibbs, something he’s only done twice thus far in the prequel since exiting the mothership in its 19th season. All that has been revealed about his arc is it’s “part of a present-day mystery tied to his ‘90s Camp Pendleton days in an action-packed story that unfolds all season long.”
LEAVING: Joe Miñoso, Chicago Fire
The series that started it all for One Chicago is losing an original cast member in Season 15, with Joe Miñoso, who has been around since Episode 1 (and promoted to series regular in Season 2), exiting after “a handful of episodes.” At least we’ll get to see how firefighter Joe Cruz is written out onscreen?
LEAVING: Dermot Mulroney, Chicago Fire
Though he had stepped away towards the end of Season 14, Dermot Mulroney returned for the finale, though nothing suggested that his character, Pascal, would be sticking around after being terminated due to the events of the March 2026 crossover. It has now been confirmed that he’ll only be back for one episode of Season 15 to wrap up his character’s story.
LEAVING: LaRoyce Hawkins, Chicago P.D.
The police drama is losing a cast member who has been there since the beginning, with LaRoyce Hawkins exiting after two or three episodes of Season 14. Those episodes will reveal how Intelligence will be losing Atwater.
LEAVING: Reid Scott, Law & Order
Detective Vincent Riley is saying goodbye in Season 26, with Reid Scott returning for a few episodes so his character can be written out onscreen. (We have a theory for how that should be done.)
NEW: Ryan Phillippe, 9-1-1: Nashville
The 9-1-1 spinoff is getting a series regular detective character in Ryan Phillippe‘s “seductive bad boy with a past” who will be heading up the investigation into “a mysterious criminal tormenting Nashville on a biblical scale.” Showrunner Rashad Raisani told TV Insider that this criminal “leads to some great calamities” and this detective is “the tip of the spear dealing with that crisis.”
He explained, “Ryan Murphy had this great inspiration about this criminal who’s creating 9-1-1 calamities for our firefighters and our first responders assault, but there’s a criminal element underneath it. And so then the police can get involved and our teams can work together with Ryan Phillippe’s character to get to the bottom of this.”
NEW: Olivia Thirlby, Fire Country
Olivia Thirlby is coming in as the first new series regular to join the CBS drama since it premiered. She’s playing new firefighter Cecilia Jade “CJ” Ryan,” who is described as “a quick-witted, fiercely independent, blue-collar, decorated urban firefighter who bolted her station house and city for mysterious reasons. After six months on the road, trying to outrun whatever happened, and herself, fate strands her in Edgewater where she crosses paths with Bode. Despite having no experience fighting woodland fires, Bode believes CJ has something to offer Station 42. And despite the serious culture shock, this fish out of water comes to believe rural Edgewater has something to offer her.”
NEW: James Badge Dale, Law & Order
It has yet to be revealed when James Badge Dale‘s first episode will be, but he’ll be playing a new senior detective as Riley’s replacement.
Conversation9 Comments
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A
I’m very upset about LeRoyce Hawkins leaving Chicago PD😡🤦🏼♀️
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S
I am disappointed too and although I don't know what LeRoyce's reasons for leaving (don't need to know either his business only) are, I wish him the very best future!
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T
Bummed about losing Kevin Atwater, but understand LaRoyce wanting to leave. A bit more concerned about the new regular series person on Fire Country. I mean, all the men are taken (unless they pair her with Uncle Luke or Eve). I can't handle another "love triangle" for Bode.
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A
Me too☹️😡
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J
DiNozzo is going to be in a season-long arc?? I thought it was just going to be 2 or maybe 3 episodes. This is bad news. And unless it's done correctly (ha!) it will likely be bad news for the show.
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D
I do wonder what they are planning on how Tony is back around and living Ziva and child back in Europe... I could see them coming in for a visit...
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D
Figured maybe Atwater has a near death experience and leaves the police department knowing he has a kid on the way his own father was gone for most of his life so that could effect him or Callum Beck the kid whose grandfather Atwater killed could put a hit on him and Kevin and his family go into witsec. Calling it now in the past Dominguez was murdered by a killer Gibbs never caught in 1993 and that same killer is back operating in 2026. Tony Dinozzo being back brings some humor back everyone else is too serious to be a wisecracker and Tony is the OG.
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J
I’m looking forward to seeing Tony back.
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G
Is there a reason they are rehashing the same old stories? Actually do your job and look for something new to write about. I’m sure it’s out there
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