'NCIS' season 14 updates, spoilers: What we know so far about upcoming 14th installment of series

What should fans expect when "NCIS" season 14 returns this fall? For one, there would be no Michael Weatherly to breathe life to Tony DiNozzo's character. For another, CBS' flagship police procedural drama is expected to be lighter but just as explosive as it has been all these years.

Weatherly has bid goodbye to the show he was part of the past 13 seasons to explore other opportunities. He will be seen in the TV series "Bull" featuring Dr. Phil McGraw's early career in trial consulting. It will be shown on CBS, too, and would premiere on the same day as "NCIS'" season 14 would. However, in an interview with Deadline, he admitted that should the series need him, he would be more than willing to return to "NCIS" as a guest star.

"I believe in the franchise of NCIS very much. I would absolutely be open to anything and everything, including things that no one's even thought of yet. So the long answer is yes," he said.

In his stead are three new actors whose characters are expected to leave a mark on fans of the show. Duane Henry, who was introduced near the end of season 13, has been tapped as a series regular. He'll be playing MI6 Agent Clayton Reeves. Jennifer Esposito would be playing Special Agent Alexandra "Alex" Quinn, an old friend of Gibbs (Mark Harmon).

Wilmer Valderrama, on the other hand, was the one primarily chosen to fill the void left by Weatherly's exit. The "That 70s Show" actor is going to play Special Agent Nicholas "Nick" Torres, a former field agent who was presumed dead after going on a deep cover assignment and cutting all ties with the agency.

The Bitbag reported that "NCIS" season 14 would be tapping into its old roots, which means the fun and mystery that fans missed in season 13 would be back big time. DiNozzo might not be around anymore, but the hilarity would still pretty much be a part of the show. Apparently, the show is likewise expanding to terrain that is more dangerous and with more gunfights, as revealed by Valderrama himself during the San Diego Comic-Con. 

"We're at day five of shooting on the first episode. Already there's been a couple of explosions and I shot a guy off of a motorcycle already. I am crazy," Valderrama told Entertainment Weekly.

"NCIS" season 14 will debut on Sept. 20 at 8 p.m. EST on CBS. In the meantime, stay tuned for more "NCIS" season 14 updates.