On July 10, 2013, CBS television studios announced that Cote de Pablo would be leaving "NCIS" during season 11. That fall, De Pablo appeared in two episodes as a series regular to wrap up her character's storyline. In season 13, Ziva was apparently killed off screen, though executive producer and show runner Gary Glasberg suggested that she might still be alive. In season 16, Ziva was confirmed to be still alive, and De Pablo returned in season 17 as a guest star for several episodes.