Vanessa Ferlito attends the 'Lone Survivor' New York premiere at Ziegfeld Theater on December 3, 2013 in New York City. (Photo : Getty Images/ Jemal Countess)
"NCIS: New Orleans" season 3 will see the addition of a new regular "Graceland" actress Vanessa Ferlito after original cast member Zoe McLellan left the "NCIS" spin-off ahead of the new season. Ferlito, portraying a still unnamed character is coming to investigate Dwayne Pride's (Scott Bakula) team, which could put the team into much confusion.
McLellan is not joining "NCIS: New Orleans" season 3 after her character as Great Lakes transplant Special Agent Meredith "Merri" Brody was compromised in Season 2. The exit of the actress was regarded as a creative decision, according to TV Line, who first reported the news.
Agent Brody was found in a relationship with a Homeland Security agent John Russo (Ivan Sergei). Season 2 titled "Sleeping with the Enemy" exposes Russo's real job of drug smuggling putting Agent Brody and the rest of the New Orleans team in danger, .
However, Agent Brody was already caught in between even she had no bad intentions with her failed romance with Russo. Head Agent Pride showed that he had no resentments with what he found out of Agent Brody even it put his life in danger.
In "NCIS: New Orleans" season 3, Ferlito is coming to New Orleans to examine inside Pride's NCIS team. It is speculated that her presence would bring confusion to the team members who have their own ways of handling the cases.
The still unnamed character is described as a "sexy, tough and acerbic" FBI Special Agent who has a mission: to investigate the NCIS team in New Orleans. The new special agent was told to have her own secrets to keep.
The casting news in "NCIS: New Orleans" season 3 came after the original "NCIS" Season 14 reported casting shake ups. The new season welcomes Wilmer Valderrama, Jennifer Esposito, and Duane Henry as series regulars after Tony DiNozzo's (Michael Weatherly) exit.
Ferlito's participation in the upcoming season of the police procedural military drama marks as her return to CBS, according to Deadline. Some of her works include "CSI: NY," "24" and "The Sopranos." The next season is slated for Sept. 20 release.
Check out some of the behind-the-scenes of "NCIS: New Orleans"
