'NCIS' won't 'directly' replace Michael Weatherly

CBS knows there is no replacing Michael Weatherly, so don’t go looking for a new character to fill Tony DiNozzo’s very big shoes on NCIS, the network’s chief told reporters Tuesday.

“The producers are working on a couple of roles right now,” said CBS Entertainment President Glenn Geller. “It’s not a direct replacement of Tony DiNozzo, but we are looking at a couple additions [for] this season.”

The network recently confirmed reports that Weatherly will leave the procedural at season’s end. The actor’s departure had been in the works for more than a year; Weatherly even sat down with CBS Corp. Chairman Leslie Moonves about exiting the show that made him a household name.

Weatherly joined the drama in 2003. He said via Twitter that “DiNozzo is a wonderful, quixotic character & I couldn’t have had more fun playing him over the past 13 seasons.”

The producers have yet to decide how to write off DiNozzo, Geller admitted. “They are working on how Michael’s character is going to be written out. Gary [Glasberg] and the producers are working on that right now. I will definitely miss, as I’m sure the fans will too … and my mother … very special agent Tony DiNozzo. His decision was his, it was a creative one. He had been in the role for 13 years. I completely understand that and I wish him well.”