Following a mysterious appearance on the NCIS Season 9 premiere, Scott Wolf has not been seen or heard from since, but he will be back on the show in its first episode of 2012, according to reports.

If you recall, Wolf played Stratton ... if that's even his real name.

As part of the Phantom Eight storyline, he was working with Latham, head of the ONI's Watcher Fleet. The extent of their machinations wasn't overtly explained, but thanks to Mike Franks (RIP), Gibbs knows the uber-secret agent was (and is) involved in the selling of state secrets contained in the infamous microchip.

That microchip almost got DiNozzo killed - more than once.

Fortunately, Tony survived, but in the new year, “Stratton intends to finish what he started and influence some unexpected lives in the process,” executive producer Gary Glasberg tells TV Line, “including Gibbs’.”

In addition to Wolf, Sarah Jane Morris also returns to NCIS that week as E.J. Barrett. How do you see this playing out? Are you excited to see either? Share your comments with us in the comments below.

Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Google+ or email him here.