Departing NCIS co-star Michael Weatherly is staying in the CBS fold as the lead in the network’s drama pilot Bull, playing a character inspired by Dr. Phil.

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Written by Phil McGraw and Paul Attanasio and directed by Rodrigo Garcia, Bull is based on popular daytime talk-show host Dr. Phil’s early days as head of one of the most prolific trial consulting services of all time. It centers on Dr. Jason Bull (Weatherly), who runs Trial Sciences Inc., 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.

For the past 13 seasons, Weatherly has played one of the most popular characters on NCIS, Anthony DiNozzo. A fan favorite, Weatherly is departing the long-running series, on which he is an original cast member, at the end of his current contract this spring. He had been interested in a starring vehicle for his follow-up, and will be able to film Bull around his NCIS schedule as both projects come from the same studio, CBS TV Studios.

Bull is executive produced by Attanasio, Phil and Jay McGraw, Justin Falvey & Darryl Frank of Amblin Television and Garcia. Co-starring are Freddy Rodriguez, Geneva Carr and Chris Jackson.

Weatherly is repped by WME, Anonymous Content and attorney Joel McKuin.