Everything We Know About Mark Harmon’s NCIS: ORIGINS Role
By Movieguide® Contributor
NCIS fans have more than just a new spin-off to look forward to. It has been confirmed that legendary NCIS star Mark Harmon will make a few reappearances in NCIS: ORIGINS.
The new show follows the young Leroy Jethro Gibbs, played by Austin Stowell, and many fans wondered if Harmon, who left the NCIS mothership show in 2021, would have a part in the spinoff.
TV Line reported, “NCIS vet Mark Harmon will occasionally appear on-screen, as the older Gibbs relays this story of his NIS beginnings.”
Showrunners David J. North and Gina Montreal revealed to TV Line, “As the creators of the show, we viewed Gibbs telling his own story as an enormous opportunity to actually get into the head of one of the most iconic, enigmatic characters ever… As far as how we’re getting this peek behind the curtain — meaning, in what way exactly is our beloved Gibbs telling us his story? — that will be answered on October 14th.”
Harmon is also involved as an executive producer of the series, along with his son Sean.
“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 at the time the show was announced. “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 Gina, David and my dad as we tell this story and reveal a new side of this beloved character.”
“Set in 1991, NCIS: ORIGINS explores the early career of Leroy Jethro Gibbs, a new agent at the NCIS Camp Pendleton office. The series delves into Gibbs’ formative years under the mentorship of Special Agent Mike Franks. The prequel provides insights into Gibbs’ background following the tragic loss of his wife and daughter,” Collider summarized.
“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,” Amy Reisenbach, President of CBS Entertainment, said about the show. “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.”
NCIS: ORIGINS will premiere on Oct. 14 with a two-hour episode on CBS.
Movieguide® previously reported on ORIGINS:
NCIS: ORIGINS showrunner Mark D. Cross is giving fans of the franchise a sneak peek at what they can expect from the prequel series…
The series is unique in the NCIS-verse, as it’s the first show in the franchise set in the past, telling the backstory of already-known characters. However, that doesn’t mean there won’t be some surprises in store.
“They don’t know as much as they think they do,” Cross said of NCIS’ fans. “Seeing Gibbs arrive at NIS on Day 1, and seeing how Gibbs became Gibbs…? You will realize there’s so much to explore.”
Co-showrunner Gina Lucita Monreal added that NCIS: ORIGINS will delve into Gibbs’ relationship with Michael Franks, a supporting character in the original series.
“It gives Gibbs a different kind of shading than we’ve seen before as a character,” she explained.
