Wilmer Valderrama says Stana Katic’s March visit to the NCIS set was exactly what it looked like: a visit from an old friend, not a casting announcement. Fans had hoped her appearance meant she might guest-star on the CBS drama, but Valderrama said Tuesday, April 28, that there is nothing to report yet about Katic showing up onscreen.
Valderrama, who plays Nick Torres, said he and Katic have known each other for many years and have long talked about working together. He said she texted him saying she would love to come by the set, and added that she showed up because she had not seen him in a long time.
The actor said the visit understandably set off speculation on the production floor. He described the reaction from the crew, writers and directors as immediate when Katic walked in, but he stressed that her appearance did not come with any confirmed role on Season 22. For now, the visit remains a friendly moment rather than a storyline.
That context matters because Katic is not just any visitor to a TV set. She spent eight seasons as Kate Beckett on Castle, and her Castle costar Seamus Dever recurred in NCIS Season 22 as Deputy Director Gabriel LaRoche. That connection is part of why her time on the NCIS set quickly fed hopes that the network might be lining up a crossover of sorts.
But Valderrama’s comments draw a firmer line than the fan chatter did. He said he was grateful she came by, called her husband, Kris Brkljač, an amazing dude, and made clear that any work together would have to wait. The visit may have stirred the imagination of viewers, but as of his comments on Tuesday, April 28, it had not turned into anything more.