NCIS Star Cote de Pablo Won’t Return For Season 11

NCIS star Cote de Pablo (Ziva David) will not return to the hit CBS series for the shows 11th season. CBS confirmed on Wednesday that Cote will stick around just long enough to let her storyline play out.

CBS and CBS TV Studios released the following press statement regarding Cote de Pablo’s exit from the show:

“We respect Cote’s decision, thank her for being an important part of the team, and for eight terrific years playing Ziva David. Cote and CBS share a great respect for the NCIS audience, and we look forward to working with her and the producers on appropriate closure in this chapter of Ziva’s story.”

Cote de Pablo joined the cast of NCIS eight seasons ago and quickly become a hit with fans.

Rumors about the stars exit began to surface after show star Mark Harmon re-upped his contract in February, leaving Cote as the only NCIS cast member without a new agreement.

Season 11 of NCIS premieres on September 24, 2013.

Still starring in NCIS are show regularly Michael Weatherly, Sean Murray, Pauley Perrette, Rocky Carroll, Brian Dietzen, and David McCallum.

In her own statement release today, de Pablo said:

“I’ve had 8 great years with NCIS and Ziva David. I have huge respect and affection for Mark, Gary, Michael, David, Rocky, Pauley, Brian, Sean, all of the team and CBS. I look forward to finishing Ziva’s story.”

NCIS is CBS’ biggest hit with season 10 averaging 22 million viewer per episode, up by seven percent from the prior season. NCIS is so big that it has been topping NBC’s living airing of Sunday Night Football.NCIS also ranks number one in the all important 25-54 demographic.

Do you think Cote de Pablo taking her final bow for NCIS is going to leave show producers with a large hole to fill for next seasons casting?