HOME / ENTERTAINMENT / TV

Who will replace Director Vance on ‘NCIS’? Rocky Carroll is set to return but not in the way fans hoped

After the death of Leon Vance, the focus is now on who the new 'NCIS' director will be

Rocky Carroll's character, Director Leon Vance, being killed in a landmark 500th episode of 'NCIS', is still news that's hard to digest. The episode sees Vance hint at an imminent end as he has flashbacks of events from his life and career after being shot by a corrupt agent. The death came as a major shock for fans, considering the long-running franchise's reluctance to kill major characters. With this, the focus is on what's next for Carroll and who will succeed him as the new 'NCIS' director.

For starters, his successor will most likely be Sean Murray's Timothy McGee. He has been an integral part of the show since the first season. It shouldn't come as a surprise if fans see him in Vance's chair in the next episode. There is also the possibility that the show may introduce a new name in the mix to take over as director. However, the series has followed a pattern, with familiar names stepping into leadership roles. This makes another strong case for McGee to be the new director.

As for Carroll, his 'NCIS' journey isn't done yet. Speaking to Variety in an exclusive interview after the bold move, the actor revealed he would return to the show, but not in the way fans hoped. He spoke about his future appearances in the series and his work behind the camera, as he said, "Oh, I think we coined the term ghost stars. We have more ghost stars on our show than anybody. So I absolutely foresee it." He added, "And I also direct three, sometimes four episodes every season. And I think that will continue. So for me, it’s really goodbye for now. It’s not as final as it feels. Even when I shot the final scene on Dec. 11, when we finished the episode and shot the final scene, and all of us as a crew were all saying goodbyes and hugs, I just remember saying, 'Guys, I’ll be back in a month to start doing prep work and pre-production for the episode that I’m directing.' So, I’m not here for every meal now as a relative, but I come back for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I’ll be around."

It goes without saying that Carroll has been a vital part of the show for over 18 seasons. He went from being a recurring name to a franchise mainstay. While fans will surely take their time to process the on-screen death, McGee's potential promotion will surely add a new look and layer to the show. 'NCIS' airs new episodes on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.