‘NCIS’ season 12 spoilers: Meet teenage version of Michael Weatherly’s Tony
For an upcoming episode of “NCIS” season 12, the show is flashing back. Specifically, they are introducing us to a younger version of the Tony DiNozzo character.
According to a new report from TVLine, “Haunted Hathaways” actor Tanner Stine has landed the role of a teenage Tony, who spent some of his childhood at a military prep academy. These are years that probably formed him into someone who wanted to fight crime as an adult, and maybe also the personable guy that he is.
In speaking about Stine, showrunner Gary Glasberg tells the website that he is a “terrific kid who literally studied Michael Weatherly’s mannerisms,” and due to this “blew us away in the audition. He came in with the haircut, the attitude, the whole thing.” Let this be a lesson to other young actors who want to get parts like this.
We know that there are many stories ahead for Tony this season. Robert Wagner is going to return as the elder DiNozzo at some point, and Marisol Nichols is expecting to reprise her role as possible love interest Zoe Keates for at least one more episode.
The winter finale of “NCIS” airs on CBS Tuesday night, and it is expected to be an emotional story that revolves heavily around Gibbs and his rules. Not only that, but there is a McGee storyline that already has some wondering whether or not he could be leaving the show. (We don’t think that’s happening, so take a deep breath.) After this, new episodes will begin once again in January. The show is following the same schedule pattern as usual.
What do you think about this casting? Share some of your thoughts right now with a comment, and head over here if you want to book some further updates via email courtesy of our CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: CBS.)
Lorraine64
December 16, 2014 @ 3:27 pm
I’d rather hoped when it was rumoured that we’d be seeing a young Tony that maybe with Senior’s imminent wedding we might find Tony having thoughts of his mum and we’d get to see a couple of flashbacks with an 8 year old Tony and learn more about his mother and her death – but sadly not. I don’t have a problem with seeing a teenage Tony, just hope that it is indeed just a quick couple of flashbacks similar to when we saw a young Gibbs and a young Ziva, and not half the episode as recently with Ducky and in season 10’s little Abby episode. Tony is very much my favourite character and I’m all for a Tony centric story as long as that’s a Tony primarily played by Michael Weatherly – who in my opinion has had way to little to do this season and what he has done hasn’t exactly stretched his dramatic acting chops.
And I’m probably being cynical but from the clips I’ve seen of tonight’s episode rather than a gift to fans as Pauley has described the episode it looks more to me like production saving money doing an episode with a lot of clips from previous episodes. Just hoping that it includes clips from seasons 1-4, Don Bellisario’s vital contribution to this series seems these days to be largely ignored.
sadtonyfan
December 15, 2014 @ 11:38 pm
I’m glad we seem to be getting a Tony centric episode. Hope we’re in for some Tony drama this time around. It’s been a while since we’ve had a Tony centric episode with any real drama. I really enjoy seeing Michael Weatherly get to use his dramatic acting chops instead of his gift for comedy. Fingers crossed.
Lorraine64
December 16, 2014 @ 3:42 pm
You’re certainly more optimistic than I – I’m desperate to see a dramatic Tony centric episode – but by Tony centric I mean Michael Weatherly centric so hopefully since we’ve already had a heavy young Ducky episode already this season this one will just be limited to the occasional short flashback. Sadly these days I expect to be disappointed. It’s only the great fanfic that has kept me interested in this series at all, though that probably makes me even more frustrated since many of those writers seem to have so much more imagination and passion for their writing compared to the professionals. Now rather than being totally obsessed with NCIS I’m watching other shows for my entertainment.
sadtonyfan
December 17, 2014 @ 1:20 am
No, as a Tony fan I pretty much expect disappointment. Since it’s a Tony episode I doubt that there will be even half as much publicity as the GIbbs/McGee premier, the Gibbs/McGee Christmas episode, or the upcoming Gibbs ex wife episode. I’ll honestly be amazed if they allow Michael Weatherly to have any drama at all. It seems to be taboo for the writers to give Weatherly anything meaty. Absolutely all of that kind of opportunity to shine as an actor seems only to go to Harmon and Murray these days. No, I too fear that this will be another “light hearted” episode which portrays Tony as the joke or as pathetic. If I keep this in mind it makes the disappointment less jarring, and if the writers are actually allowed to write a really compelling personal drama for Weatherly’s character, I’ll be pleasantly surprised (and shocked).