The NCIS universe is expanding with the upcoming prequel series, NCIS: Origins, which has received a straight-to-series order for the 2024-2025 broadcast season. The show will focus on the origin story of Leroy Jethro Gibbs, narrated by Mark Harmon, who will also be serving as one of the executive producers. The prequel will take viewers back to 1991, before the events of NCIS, as a young Gibbs starts his career as a special agent at the NCIS Camp Pendleton office, led by NCIS legend Mike Franks.
Although Harmon stepped back from the role of Gibbs in 2021, his character’s story is far from over. Co-showrunners Gina Lucita Monreal and David J. North stated that even the most dedicated NCIS fans will discover that they don’t know the whole story. Alongside a young Gibbs, fans will also meet the younger version of Mike Franks and a young Special Agent Vera Strickland in season 1 of the series. The drama promises to build on the rich legacy of the character while reintroducing fan-favorite characters and introducing new ones.
Harmon will not be reprising his role as Gibbs on camera but will narrate the series. His son, Sean Harmon, who previously portrayed young Gibbs on NCIS, will step into a producing role alongside Monreal, North, and his father. The show will reveal a new side of the beloved character and explore his earlier years. Actor Austin Stowell has been cast as the young Leroy Jethro Gibbs, and Mariel Molino will portray Special Agent Lala Dominguez, a former Marine who will have an intriguing dynamic with Gibbs.
The producers of NCIS: Origins include Mark Harmon, Sean Harmon, Gina Lucita Monreal, and David J. North. Monreal and North have previously worked on NCIS for 10 years, with North also being the co-showrunner and executive producer on the franchise’s longest-running series. The new series is set to air weekly on CBS and will also be available for livestreaming on Paramount Plus for premium subscribers. The exact premiere date for season 1 of NCIS: Origins has not been announced yet, but it is scheduled for the 2024-2025 lineup with a fall release.
In addition to Stowell as young Gibbs and Molino as Special Agent Dominguez, Robert Taylor has been cast as Ralph Waite, the father of Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Daniel Bellomy and Caleb Martin Foote have also been cast in recurring guest star roles. The series promises to be a thrilling addition to the NCIS universe, giving fans a deeper insight into the early years of Leroy Jethro Gibbs and his relationships with other key characters. With Mark Harmon’s return as a narrator and producer, NCIS: Origins is set to captivate audiences with its compelling storytelling and rich character development.
