In an emotional open letter to fans, NCIS show-runner Gary Glasberg addressed the exit of Cote de Pablo, promising shocks, surprises, goodbyes and plenty of tears on the horizon this fall.
Glasberg stressed that the cast, producers and writers respect de Pablo's decision to leave the show and said they spent all summer working on her character's exit and shaping NCIS Season 11.
While fans may be crushed that the actress is leaving, the show is bringing its A game.
"The amazing resolution you're going to see is pretty damn heart-wrenching and we're incredibly proud of it," executive producer Glasberg wrote. "Prepare yourselves for a moment in television history."
"Images that will end up in the archives. I couldn't be happier with how my NCIS family stepped up and did some of the most emotional work we've ever done."
She'll appear in the first two episodes of Season 11 before her character exits the series. CBS boss Les Moonves said they tried to get her to stay, but that it was entirely her call.
"We offered Cote a lot of money and then we offered her even more money. We really didn't want to lose her. We love her ... We obviously were in discussion with the rest of the cast and the producers [and Cote]."
"Ultimately, she decided she didn't want to do the show."
“It was not an easy decision," de Pablo told Latina. "I feel like I am leaving my family. What I want to say most of all is thank you to the fans and to the people who have been so supportive of me and of the show."
NCIS Season 11 officially begins Tuesday, September 24.
Read Glasberg's open letter to fans after the jump:
