who will be the new director on ncis
There is no officially confirmed “new NCIS director” yet, and right now it’s all speculation based on recent seasons and interviews. The series still has Leon Vance in the big chair, with most talk focusing on who might take over when he eventually retires.
Quick Scoop: What We Actually Know
- Leon Vance is still the on-screen Director of NCIS in the most recent storylines.
- The show has teased leadership changes and “end of an era” vibes around Vance, which naturally fuels director-change theories.
- A recent arc brought in Deputy Director Gabriel LaRoche, who came across as deeply suspicious and short‑lived in the role.
- LaRoche ultimately resigns as Deputy Director, which closes off the “he’ll take over as director” theory for now.
So if you’re asking “who will be the new director on NCIS,” the honest answer is: the show has not announced a canon replacement yet, and there’s no confirmed new director in place.
The Big Fan Favorite: McGee As Director
One of the most popular fan theories is that Timothy McGee will eventually become NCIS Director. Why fans think McGee is next:
- McGee has already stepped into temporary leadership and even acted in a director‑type capacity when Vance was incapacitated, and he handled it surprisingly well.
- Viewers noticed he “suited” the director role, and some see his career path moving upward rather than just staying team lead.
- There was a whole storyline where McGee pursued the Deputy Director job, signaling he’s seen as upper‑management material in-universe.
But the twist:
- Show bosses have since suggested the Deputy Director plot was more about bringing LaRoche into the story than permanently pushing McGee upstairs.
- Recent commentary indicates there are no firm plans to make McGee Deputy Director again in the immediate future, let alone full Director.
So McGee remains the top “future director” theory, but it’s still only that: a theory, not a done deal.
Other Names Fans Toss Around
Even without an official announcement, forums and fan spaces are busy speculating about who could wear the director badge next.
Some recurring names:
- Timothy McGee
- Pros: Longest‑serving agent on the team, natural leadership, has already done the job temporarily.
* Cons: Creative team has cooled the Deputy Director arc for now.
- A Totally New Character
- Pros: A new director could reset the show’s power dynamics and create fresh conflict with the team.
* Cons: Fans tend to prefer a promotion for an established character instead of an outsider parachuting in.
- Another Existing Higher‑Up
- Some speculation suggests a recurring bureaucrat or a character we haven’t met yet in the main office could slide into the chair, particularly if Vance’s exit becomes part of a “changing of the guard” event.
Here’s a quick overview in table form:
| Candidate | Why Fans Consider Them | Main Obstacle |
|---|---|---|
| Timothy McGee | Has already served in a director‑like capacity, long tenure, strong leadership growth. | [3][9]Current producers downplayed a real promotion arc after the LaRoche storyline. | [5]
| New Character | Would shake up team dynamics and give writers new power‑structure stories to play with. | [1][6]Risk of fan pushback if they replace Vance with a stranger. |
| Other Existing Higher‑Up | Keeps leadership grounded in the existing NCIS hierarchy and ongoing arcs. | [7][6]No clear, widely‑hinted candidate publicly confirmed yet. | [7]
What The Latest News & Teases Suggest
- Season 22 and 23 chatter has focused more on internal reshuffling and hierarchy changes than naming a specific new director.
- Commentary around Vance hints at “end of an era,” which usually means the writers are at least thinking about how to pass the torch when the time comes.
- The LaRoche arc, with him becoming Deputy Director and then resigning, shows the writers testing different leadership configurations above the team without permanently replacing Vance yet.
In other words, the show is clearly playing with the question “who could run NCIS next?” but hasn’t locked in an answer on-screen.
Forum Discussion & Trending Topic Angle
On fan forums, you’ll typically see three big threads around this topic:
- “McGee is endgame director” theory
- People point to his acting-director stints and character growth as a slow‑burn setup.
- “Keep Vance forever” crowd
- Many argue Rocky Carroll’s character is too central and charismatic, so they’d rather see him stay until the series finale.
- “We need a bold shakeup” takes
- Some fans hope for a brand‑new director with a very different style, to create friction with the team and fresh long-form arcs.
“He really does suit the role as director of NCIS… If Vance ever steps down or retires, will McGee be next in line?”
That quote sums up a lot of the current forum mood: hopeful speculation, but still speculation.
TL;DR
- There is no officially named new NCIS director yet in current canon.
- Leon Vance is still Director on-screen, though recent storylines and interviews tease possible transitions down the line.
- McGee is the leading fan pick to eventually take over, but producers have not committed to that path publicly.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.