Ziva David (played by Cote de Pablo) is due to return to NCIS this autumn for season 17. The CBS series’ showrunners have revealed what it took to bring the actress back to the show. De Pablo returned after the makers of the show managed to address her major problem with the show.
How Cote de Pablo was convinced to return to NCIS
Back in 2013, de Pablo revealed that she left NCIS because she thought she was not getting meaty enough plots.
In a Q&A, which fans can find on YouTube, she revealed: “They were going to send [Ziva] back to Israel and make her a sad, miserable woman.
“I said, ‘What do I leave all the women that are watching and following the show?’ And I didn’t think it was fair.
“So, I said, ‘Unless someone can really write something fantastic, I won’t go back…
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“Unfortunately, because of political things and the scripts not being good enough, I chose not to [stay]. I love this character.
“I worked eight years in crafting this character and loving her, so when I felt or I perceived the character was not being treated with the respect that she deserved, all the money in the world couldn’t buy [me].”
However, the NCIS showrunners were clearly able to offer her a strong enough plot to get her to return.
Speaking to Parade magazine, showrunner Frank Cardea said: “We came up with the idea and we approached Cote.
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“She wanted to know what the storyline was going to be, and we basically pitched her the arc of her episodes.
“She came out and had a meeting with Steve, me, the writer and Mark Harmon and she loved it, and here she is.”
As for what that arc will be, he was understandably tight-lipped.
However, he did tease some of the details that convinced de Pablo to return.
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He said: “There’s someone out there that’s so bad, that’s so dangerous, that she had to go undercover and leave her daughter behind, at least for a period of time.”
The star later added: “It’s something that has been part of the fabric of the show, her character and the introduction of her character from the very beginning.
“So, we’re playing with the DNA of Ziva David in terms of this jeopardy.
“We gave a lot of thought to what we want to see and what we think people will want to see. I think we’re going to hit all the checkboxes.”
NCIS season 17 starts September 24 on CBS
