The upcoming NCIS prequel series, currently titled NCIS: Origins, gets a clarifying update from the president of CBS Entertainment. More than two years after Mark Harmon’s exit from the long-running CBS drama, it was recently announced that Harmon would return to the NCIS universe to narrate a prequel spinoff focused on the younger years of his character Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
Amy Reisenbach, the president of CBS Entertainment, touched on the NCIS prequel in an interview with Deadline. While discussing the slate of CBS’ programming overall, Reisenbach noted that the Gibbs-focused series is “grittier” and more serialized than the main NCIS. The executive also draws a comparison between the prequel, which is slated for the 2024-25 broadcast season, and the spinoff NCIS: Sydney. Read the quote below:
NCIS: Origins is really different than any of the other NCIS‘s; it makes me feel so old to say it’s period when it’s set in the 90s, kill me now, right?
It’s a little edgier and grittier than previous NCIS‘s, it’s got a serialized element of it that we’re really excited about. And whereas I would say NCIS: Sydney too really had its own identity, it was very uniquely Australian and told stories that can only be told in Australia, so I feel like they’re both opportunities to gain new audiences while also being true to the DNA and loyal fan base of those shows.
What To Know About NCIS: Origins
The prequel will unfold in 1991, centering on Gibbs just as he’s starting his career as a Special Agent at the NCIS Camp Pendleton office. According to summaries, Gibbs builds up a gritty team that NCIS legend Mike Franks leads. Franks had a recurring role in the original series and was portrayed by Muse Watson. The character first featured in NCIS season 3 and would even appear to Gibbs as a figment of his imagination after Franks’ season 8 death to offer advice, showing his significance.
NCIS: Origins will include a younger version of Special Agent Vera Strickland. The character was originally played by Nip/Tuck alum Roma Maffia in the NCIS season 11 episode “Under the Radar,” which aired in 2013. In that episode, which marks her only appearance in the CBS franchise, it’s revealed that Strickland was once Franks’ partner. No casting decisions have been announced.
Sean Harmon, Mark Harmon’s son, who helped develop the idea and pitch it, will not be portraying the younger version of Gibbs in the prequel. Even though Sean portrayed a young version of Gibbs in several NCIS episodes, he will instead focus on executive producing the CBS series alongside Mark Harmon, David J. North, and Gina Lucita Monreal. The latter will also co-write the premiere episode and serve as showrunners. North works on the main series alongside Steven D. Binder and will continue to do so, maintaining a strong creative link between NCIS: Origins and the overall franchise.
