‘We Might See Gibbs Again’: NCIS Star Hints at Mark Harmon’s Return
By Movieguide® Contributor
Many NCIS cast members have hinted that Mark Harmon may return to the show as Leroy Gibbs, especially as NCIS celebrates its 20th anniversary on CBS this year.
“I don’t see how we don’t see him one more time at one point,” showrunner Steven D. Binder said. “Gibbs has, in my mind, advanced to a higher plane of existence for now—I don’t want to place him in an apartment in Anchorage or anywhere. We left him smiling on a river happy, and that’s the image I want people to have until we’re really ready to blow that out of the water or truly embrace it in some way.”
Harmon retired from NCIS after season 19 last year. He had been with the show since its inception in 2003.
Rocky Carroll, who plays Leon Vance, agrees that Gibbs will most likely return to the show, noting that the other characters look up to Gibbs, and he serves as a moral compass.
“We might see Gibbs again. I think as long as this show stays on the air, there will always be a little bit of a tease that we might see Gibbs again,” Carroll said.
Fans and those who work on the show believe that Harmon will return to the show at some point. Many speculated that he would return in a recent episode when the show reached its 450th episode. However, Gibbs did not return for this achievement.
While Gibbs has yet to return, Harmon still plays an active role in the creation of NCIS as an executive producer.
Movieguide® previously reported:
NCIS fans were sad to hear Mark Harmon would be leaving the crime show after 19 seasons, but showrunner Steven D. Binder has given fans hope for Harmon’s return.
While appearing at PaleyFest, Binder said, “Never count Leroy Jethro Gibbs [Harmon’s character] out. What the future will hold I can’t say, but I wouldn’t count anybody out, dead or alive, on the show.”
Sean Murray, who stars on NCIS as Special Agent Timothy McGee, has also mentioned the possibility of Harmon returning to the show.
“He does pop in,” Murray said, referring to Harmon’s role as an executive producer on the show. “I saw him two weeks ago actually. So, he’s around. It’s not like he’s packed up and left town or anything. I’m not saying this just to say it for a tease and all that, I really, truly believe that the Gibbs could pop up somewhere. I really believe that there’s a possibility of that happening.”
Murray also teased the possible return of another actor: Michael Weatherly. The actor just ended his show, BULL, and Murray let fans know he might be coming back to NCIS.
“I talk to Michael all the time, so we joke about that possibility sometimes,” Murray said.