'NCIS' season 14 news 2016: No more goodbyes? Current roster of series regulars safe through seasons 14 and 15

After the season 13 finale that broke the hearts of many longtime fans of CBS' flagship drama series "NCIS," it looks like everyone, from cast to crew, is buckling down to business. First order is to look for people to fill the hole left by Michael Weatherly's departure, and recent reports show that's been ticked off the list.

Around the second week of June, CBS announced that Wilmer Valderrama has been tapped to join the cast of "NCIS" season 14 as a series regular. While the character is yet unnamed, Heavy.com reported that the "That 70's Show" alum will play a field veteran who was presumed dead or missing after going undercover for an assignment years ago and never resurfacing.

Apparently, the things the agent experienced during the time he was gone would make him somewhat of a loose cannon. In a statement made by showrunner Gary Glasberg, he said the role would allow Valderrama to "flex his dramatic, physical and comedic talents in this classic NCIS role."

Meanwhile, former "24" star Sarah Clarke, who joined "NCIS" season 13 back in March, is one of the names being considered as series regular coming into the fourteenth season. She played FBI Special Agent Tess Monroe and appeared on the last two episodes of the thirteenth season. There is no confirmation as of yet, so it remains to be seen if she would be back this season or not.

In other related news, aside from Weatherly, no other regular cast members will be saying goodbye to "NCIS" anytime soon.

According to Deadline, Rocky Carroll, Sean Murray, David McCallum, and Pauley Perrette have all signed 2-year deals for the drama series, which means they would still be top-billing the show through to season 15.

Their contracts, as well as Weatherly's and Mark Harmon's, expired at the end of last season, but Harmon, who is also the series' executive producer, inked a 2-year deal in February. This marked the renewal of the show for two more seasons.

The contract renewal for McCallum, Murray, Perrette, and Carroll is enough assurance that the core cast will be intact for seasons 14 and 15. Incidentally, "NCIS" is still CBS' most watched drama series thirteen seasons after its inception.

"NCIS" season 14 is premiering on Tuesday, Sept. 20, at 8 p.m. on CBS.