Matt Hoyle/CBS
The drama pilot is based on the early career of Dr. Phil McGraw.
NCIS star Michael Weatherly has booked his next gig — and won't be changing his address.
The actor, who will exit CBS' NCIS at the end of season 13, has been tapped to topline the network's drama pilot Bull, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
Bull is based on the early career of Dr. Phil McGraw during his days as head of one of the most prolific trial consulting services of all time. Weatherly will play Dr. Bull, the head of a company that analyzes juries to help develop defense strategies. He has a physicality and feral intelligence that make him magnetic to women, and a bruising candor.
House's Paul Attanasio will pen the script alongside Dr. Phil McGraw. The CBS Television Studios drama will be exec produced by Amblin Television's Justin Falvey, Darryl Frank and Stage 29 Productions' Jay McGraw. Freddy Rodriguez, Geneva Carr and Chris Jackson co-star.
The casting keeps Weatherly in the CBS/CBS Television Studios fold after he spent 13 seasons starring as special agent Tony DiNozzo on NCIS — TV's most-watched drama. The character will be written out at the end of its current 13th season.
"DiNozzo is a wonderful, quixotic character and I couldn't have had more fun playing him over the past 13 seasons," the actor said in January when he announced his departure from the drama.
Bull also builds on Weatherly's relationship with the studio, where he has a development deal. He's repped by WME, Anonymous Content and attorney Joel McKuin.
Keep up with all the latest pickups, castings and eventual series orders with THR's handy guide to pilot season.
