Ziva hasn’t even technically left NCIS yet, and already it looks like her replacement has already been found. 

TVLine reports that actress Emily Wickersham has been tapped to possibly fill Ziva’s empty desk. Wickersham played A.J.’s girlfriend Rhiannon during the sixth and final season of HBO’s hit drama The Sopranos. She also played Nicole in the film I Am Number Four and is currently recurring on FX’s The Bridge as the stepdaughter of Annabeth Gish’s character. 

Wickersham’s deal is currently for a three-episode arc, but also has an option to become a series regular. CBS apparently wants to do a trial run with the actress to make sure that she will be a good fit with the show, much as they did with The Mentalist

As Ziva’s (possible) replacement, Wickersham will play Bishop, a character described as a “bright, educated, athletic, attractive, fresh-faced, focused and somewhat socially awkward new agent. Bishop has a mysterious mixture of analytic brilliance, fierce determination and idealism. She’s traveled extensively, but only feels comfortable at home.”

Bishop will make her appearance during November sweeps, but before that, the show will rotate various people at Ziva’s desk. Executive producer Gary Glasberg told TVLine that the first two episodes of Season 11 will be about Ziva’s departure, then in the third episode they will begin introducing new characters. “And then, hopefully, when people are comfortable enough, one will walk in and be The One,” Glasberg said. 

It’s tough to make any assumptions about Bishop based on a short paragraph describing her character, but one thing that’s fairly certain is the fact that she will have a tough road ahead of her. After the team lost Kate, it took some of them (like Abby) a while to warm up to Ziva. The former Mossad agent was with the team much longer so chances are that it may take even longer for them to adjust to this new team member. 

Beyond the character, Wickersham herself may face some challenges of her own. NCIS fans have made it clear that they are heartbroken about Cote de Pablo‘s decision to leave the show. Only time will tell if they will accept a new actress sitting at Ziva’s desk. 

What do you think of the new that actress Emily Wickersham has been cast in NCIS as Ziva’s possible replacement?

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(Image courtesy of WENN)

Michelle Carlbert

Contributing Writer, BuddyTV