'NCIS New Orleans' Season 5 News & Updates: Team Pride To Add New Member; Show Already Looking For Percy's Replacement

NCIS New Orleans viewers have known that the show will introduce a new character in Season 5. Vanessa Ferlito joined the show as Special Agent Tammy Gregorio when Zoe McLellan (Meredith Brody) left the series in 2016. Now, the new addition to the NOLA family will fill the position vacated by Agent Sonja Percy (Shalita Grant).

However, by the looks of it, NCIS Special Agent Dwayne Pride's new friend Sgt. Sydney Halliday (Riann Steele) is not that replacement. Halliday may not return in Season 5 or at least as a series regular.

There were earlier speculations that Halliday will replace Percy in the team. She first appeared in the series in NCIS New Orleans Season 4 Episode 18. Then again in Episode 20, the first episode after Percy bid farewell to her team. She told Pride that she already left the Army. Halliday was also in the season finale, and she has proven that her skills set will be an asset to the team.

NCIS New Orleans has yet to make any confirmation whether or not Steele will come back next season as series regular. The show will instead introduce a new character as CBS has already released a casting call for it. The show is currently looking for an actress to play the role of a female agent in her 30s, according to TVLine.

The character is described as an agent who specializes in international counterintelligence and counterterrorism. She has been happily working overseas assignments but is now ready to settle at home to "put down roots."

It sounds like Halliday fits the description. But until CBS gives confirmation, the agent post remains vacant. CBS hasn't released any information if the role has already been filled. .It is expected that there were actresses who already screened for the spot as it is quite a juicy series regular role.

For now, the good news is that NCIS NOLA is just searching for one new cast member. This somehow assured fans that Agent Dwayne Pride will survive the fatal shot he had at the cliffhanger finale of Season 4.

So far, Grant is the only confirmed cast member that will not return next season. The actress exited NCIS NOLA in Episode 19 of the previous season. Her character, Percy, decided to join the FBI International Operations. But since Percy was just written off, there is still a possibility of cameo appearance in the future. So, NOLA fans can still hope for a reunion between the country and city mouse. NCIS New Orleans Season 5 will return to its regular timeslot of Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET starting in fall.