NCIS Prequel To Explore Leroy Gibbs’ Backstory: ‘Tale Worth Telling’
The NCIS saga will continue in the spinoff series NCIS: ORIGINS, which explores the backstory of Mark Harmon’s Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
Along with Gibbs, the series will dive into Mike Franks’ and Special Agent Vera Strickland’s stories.
“Narrated by Mark Harmon, NCIS: ORIGINS begins in 1991, years prior to the events of NCIS. In the new series, Gibbs starts his career as a newly minted special agent at the fledgling NCIS Camp Pendleton office where he forges his place on a gritty, ragtag team led by NCIS legend Mike Franks. (On the mothership series, Franks has been a recurring character played by Muse Watson. Franks was fatally stabbed in Season 8 but continued to appear to Gibbs when he needed a sounding board on hard cases),” Deadline reported.
Harmon is the only confirmed cast member, though he will be returning to the franchise as the series’ narrator, not as Gibbs.
Screen Rant notes, “While certain characters could pop up as younger versions of themselves, ORIGINS will likely feature all-new actors to the franchise who step into roles unknown to fans.”
Harmon’s son Sean will serve as an executive producer for the show.
“The character of Gibbs has been an important part of my life for 20 years, both in watching my father craft the role and previously having the honor to play young Gibbs myself,” Sean said. “I always felt there was a tale worth telling about his earlier years, so I am thrilled to be stepping into a producing role alongside [NCIS writer-producers] Gina [Lucita Monreal], David [J. North] and my dad as we tell this story and reveal a new side of this beloved character.”
“There’s no denying the cultural and global phenomenon of the NCIS franchise for the last 20 years,” said David Stapf, President of CBS Studios. “When Sean and Mark approached us all with this exciting expansion of the universe – exploring a young Gibbs – we knew it was the next story that needed to be told. We also couldn’t be luckier to have Gina and David at the helm as co-showrunners who are not only brilliant and adept writers but know this character and universe so well.”
Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment, said, “We are elated and honored to continue the expansion of the NCIS universe in such a unique and unexpected way.”
NCIS: ORIGINS is slated to begin releasing during the 2024-2025 broadcasting year.
Movieguide® previously reported:
Mark Harmon can’t make up his mind about returning to NCIS.
“Mark’s been teasing a return to the show, and everyone wanted him back,” an inside source shared with Yahoo…
The insider said Harmon is “still on the fence when it comes to going back to the grind,” adding, “People wish he would stop getting them excited only to let them down.”
Harmon might not be starring in NCIS anymore, but he’s still a big part of the show.
“Mark is still very involved, and he still is an [executive producer],” NCIS actress Diona Reasonover shared. “He still comes up to set. He actually came up to tell me how much he loves the script, such a sweetie.”
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