NCIS: Showrunner Talks Crafting Ellie Character After Ziva Departure

“NCIS” showrunner Gary Glasberg explained it was hard, but enjoyable, to craft the newest female character on the long-running CBS drama.

After Cote de Pablo opted to leave the series, and the writing staff had to make an exit for her character (the much-beloved Ziva), in November 2013 they introduced a newcomer to the team – Ellie Bishop, played by Emily Wickersham. And on Wednesday, at the Television Critics Association Winter Tour 2014, Glasberg addressed writing Ellie in.

“It was a challenge,” Glasberg said in response to a question from AccessHollywood.com, about crafting the new role. “The way that this whole season unfolded was a bit of a surprise for many of us. To suddenly lose a character that, you know, has been a part of the show for nine seasons, is significant and when you replace that character I wanted to do something that was different. I wanted it to feel incredibly different, but not change the chemistry on the mix of what makes ‘NCIS’ work.

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“Bishop is different,” he continued. “She comes at things differently, she handles herself differently and Emily Wickersham has brought all kinds of layers to the characters and I’m really excited about sort of what she brings to the table, how it changes things. The actors are excited. It just opens up all kinds of doors for us and we have a sense of where we’re going and where its headed and how she fits in, but you know it’s a process and you know it’s been fun for us as writers to figure out how to do this 11 seasons into a show.”

Glasberg said people who have spoken to him about the new character, have been pleased with the addition of Ellie.

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“Overall it’s been very positive. I know that people have a tremendous connection to the Ziva character and we all do, but shows evolve and change and things move on and that’s where we are and I couldn’t be happier with our choice,” he added.

— Jolie Lash