CBS has announced a new addition to the NCIS universe with a prequel series titled ‘NCIS: Origins’, focusing on the early years of Leroy Jethro Gibbs. The network has given a straight-to-series order for the show, set to premiere in the 2024-25 broadcast season.
The project is a collaboration involving Mark Harmon and his son Sean Harmon, along with veteran NCIS writers-producers Gina Lucita Monreal and David J. North, as well as CBS Studios, the production house behind the NCIS franchise.
‘NCIS: Origins’ will be narrated by Mark Harmon and will delve into Gibbs’ career as a newly minted special agent at the fledgling NCIS Camp Pendleton office in 1991. The series will explore his early days as he forges his place on a gritty, ragtag team led by NCIS legend Mike Franks. The character of Franks has been a recurring one on the original series, played by Muse Watson. Despite being fatally stabbed in Season 8, Franks continued to appear to Gibbs as a sounding board on difficult cases.
The idea for the prequel series originated with Sean Harmon, who recurred on NCIS, portraying the younger version of Mark Harmon’s character in seven episodes from 2008-2020. Along with his father, Sean Harmon approached Monreal, North, and CBS Studios to expand the NCIS universe with a Gibbs-centered offshoot.
Sean Harmon will be focusing on executive producing duties for the new series alongside Mark Harmon. Additionally, Monreal and North will be co-writing the premiere episode and serving as co-showrunners. The search for an actor to play the lead in the spinoff will soon be launched.
Expressing his excitement for the project, Sean Harmon stated, ‘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. 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.’
