NCIS first debuted on CBS in 2003, and its twenty-first season is set to premiere on February 12th. According to The Hollywood Reporter, it has been announced that CBS has ordered an NCIS prequel series titled NCIS: Origins, which will be created by David J. North (NCIS, Scorpion) and Gina Lucita Monreal (NCIS, Star Wars: The Bad Batch). This prequel series will be set in the 1990s and specifically focus on the backstory of Leroy Jethro Gibbs, who is played by Mark Harmon (Freaky Friday, Summer School) in NCIS. Harmon will be narrating the series and will also serve as an executive producer alongside his son Sean Harmon (NCIS, Major Crimes).
As The Hollywood Reporter notes, the President of CBS Entertainment Amy Reisenbach announced the prequel series. She stated, “We are elated and honored to continue the expansion of the NCIS universe in such a unique and unexpected way. Viewers can look forward to Mark Harmon returning to CBS to narrate the complex and mysterious backstory of Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ early years in NCIS: Origins, which will build on the rich legacy of this character while reintroducing fan-favorite characters and meeting new ones.”
David Stapf, who is the President of CBS Studios, also spoke about the new series. According to The Hollywood Reporter, he explained, “There’s no denying the cultural and global phenomenon of the NCIS franchise for the last 20 years. 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.”
Sean Harmon, as The Hollywood Reporter notes, shared why he is excited to be a part of a series focused on Gibbs. He 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.”
NCIS: Origins is set to be a part of the CBS 2024-2025 broadcast season.