The NCIS prequel, NCIS: Origins, has finally cast its leading actor. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Austin Stowell (Swallow, Whiplash) has been tapped to portray the young version of Mark Hamon’s (Freaky Friday, Chasing Liberty) character, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, in the prequel. 

The series is set in 1991 and chronicles Gibbs’s early career in the Navy’s criminal investigation branch. For an even more accurate timeframe, the prequel is set 12 years before NCIS, making Gibbs 39 years old, which is Stowell’s current age. NCIS premiered in 2003 when Harmon was 51. Also, The Hollywood Reporter notes that Harmon’s character Gibbs was originally from the forerunning series JAG. 

NCIS: Origins is slated to be on the network’s roster for the 2024-25 schedule lineup, as CBS ordered it straight to series in January. 

The franchise currently comprises of NCIS, which is in its 21st season, NCIS: Hawai’i, and NCIS: Sydney, the first international version of the show. Another series has been added to the mix with NCIS alums Michael Weatherly (Dark Angel, Loving) and Cote de Pablo (The 33, The Jury), who are set to return in a Paramount+ spinoff. 

Since leaving NCIS during its 19th season, Harmon will be involved as an executive producer and narrator for the prequel. Harmon’s son, Sean Harmon (NCIS: Los Angeles, Alina), who portrayed a young Gibbs in some flashbacks of NCIS, will also be an executive producer. 

NCIS: Origins will showcase Gibbs as he starts his career as a new special agent at the NCIS Camp Pendleton office when he finds himself on a disorganized team guided by Mike Franks, portrayed by Muse Watson (Prison Break, Something to Talk About) in the original series. 

Additional NCIS alums are tied to this project, such as Gina Lucita Monreal (Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Sticky Situation) and David J. North (Rizzoli & Isles, Scorpion), who are set to write the debut episode, co-showrun and executive produce the prequel alongside Sean and Mark Harmon.

Other works for Stowell include the once-Showtime miniseries Three Women by Starz, Catch 22 by Hulu, and the feature films Battle of the Sexes and Bridge of Spies. As per The Hollywood Reporter, Stowell has been tied to NCIS before when he guest starred on a 2010 episode of NCIS: Los Angeles.

Yorn Levine and Gersh represent Stowell.