WARNING: This article contains spoilers for NCIS: Los Angeles season 11 that may influence your enjoyment in discovering the plotlines. Read at your own risk.
Barrett Foa will not be in all episodes of NCIS: Los Angeles season 11. CBS confirmed that the actor has asked for a leave of absence in the new season since he's working on a stage production of Angels in America in St. Louis.
According to TV Line, Foa's Eric Beale, the tech expert, will be sitting out five of the six new episodes of NCIS: Los Angeles season 11. This suggests that Eric will still be in the season premiere, but the writers have already found a way to explain his absence for the next five episodes.
Eric will be working on a special case for Hetty (played by Linda Hunt) in NCIS: Los Angeles season 11. Thus, he will be off the team temporarily as the job is a clandestine operation.
As a result, not a lot will be revealed about his mission except to explain why he's not with the team. However, this will be fodder for Eric's future storyline as the details about this special assignment will flow in trickles for the rest of NCIS: Los Angeles season 11.
Usually, when a cast member departs even just temporarily, loyal viewers get disappointed. But fans of NCIS: Los Angeles have taken the news with so much positivity.
"Such an amazing opportunity for him! He's my favorite, and I'm glad he'll be back," a fan posted on the show's Facebook page. Others also echoed that it's a good thing the actor has been allowed to work on his other passion while still keeping his job on the show.
Meanwhile, NCIS: Los Angeles season 11 will continue with the JAG crossover from season 10. Catherine Bell and David James Elliott are still reprising their roles as Sarah MacKenzie and Harmon Rabb Jr. for the first two episodes of the new season.
According to Digital Spy, the stars of JAG are contractually obligated for four episodes of NCIS: Los Angeles. They have appeared in the final two episodes in season 10.
NCIS: Los Angeles season 11 has started filming this August. Actor Eric Christian Olsen posted an Instagram photo confirming that the cast and crew have returned to the set and are getting ready to shoot their first scenes.
The premiere date for NCIS Los Angeles season 11 is on Sunday, Sept. 29, at 9:30 p.m. on CBS.
