NCIS actor Muse Watson was reportedly “very unhappy” about his character’s death in season 8, according to the show’s creators. Executive producer Charles Floyd Johnson revealed that Watson, who played Supervisory Special Agent Mike Franks, loved the show and was dissatisfied when his character was killed off. Watson later expressed his feelings, stating that while the plan sounded good initially, the execution left his character needing more development. The actor learned about his character’s fate while filming a Christmas production, describing the experience as “like losing an old friend” and acknowledging the impact on his livelihood. The creators assured Watson he could return as a ghost to maintain his presence on the show. Other past cast members, such as Michael Weatherly, Mark Harmon, and Cote de Pablo, also explained their reasons for leaving the series, citing factors like burnout, dissatisfaction with the storyline, and pursuing new opportunities.
