Mario Bello, who plays Dr. Jacqueline Sloane on NCIS season 17, could be on her final year in the series. Reports reveal that the actress has signed on for three seasons only and that there have been no extension negotiations so far.
According to Daily Express, Bello has yet to reveal what she plans to do now that her contract with CBS is near expiration. She joined the show in 2017 with a three-year agreement and that time will be up in 2020, which is incidentally the end of NCIS season 17.
But whether Bello leaves the show or not, there's still much to look forward to with her character in NCIS season 17. The actress is hoping she could work with returning cast member Cote De Pablo, who is going to be in at least four episodes in the upcoming season.
"I'm hoping I get some scenes with her (de Pablo) next season," Bello said of the beloved NCIS season 17 special guest star. "I've never met her, I never got to work with her. So hopefully this next season she'll be coming back and we'll find out what happens with Ziva."
Meanwhile, fans of the show are speculating that Bello's character in NCIS season 17 will have a romantic relationship with Gibbs (played by Mark Harmon). The past season has been different since the two characters had forged a deeper friendship when they used to disagree a lot at work.
"What I really liked about Jack Sloane was that she was on equal footing with Gibbs, that she didn't work for him, he doesn't work for her," Bello told Digital Spy. "So, they really are colleagues and respect each other a lot, and you'll see over the next few seasons how our relationship deepens, and we become better friends."
Bellow further explained that this is part of the reason she agreed to sign up for NCIS. Her role is a great "position of power and respect" and thus a strong presence on the show. Will this remain the same in the next season, though?
Meanwhile, Bello recently shared a photo on her Instagram with the cast of NCIS season 17 -- Wilmer Valderrama, Emily Wickersham, and Sean Murray. Bello captioned that she likes the people in her place of work and she has become a significant co-star of the long-running show.
NCIS season 17 will premiere on CBS on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, at 8:00 p.m.
