According to Deadline, CBS gave an early renewal for a third season of NCIS: Origins last week, although the third season will be a go without one of it’s current co-showrunners. Gina Lucita Monreal (Paradise, Seeing Butter) will be leaving at the end of season two. Monreal states that she will be focusing on new projects. David J North (Rizzoli & Isles, Scorpion) will be staying on as the current showrunner for season three.
Deadline reported that the two showrunners, North and Monreal, created the prequel together after being approached by a couple of actors from the NCIS universe, Mark Harmon (Freakier Friday, Joey Dakota) and his son, Sean Harmon (Breakwater, The Downside of Bliss), whom both are serving as the executive producers of NCIS: Orgins.
“It’s been the biggest honor of my career to write NCIS: Origins alongside my incredible co showrunner and friend David North. I want to thank Amy Reisenbach, David Steph, and everyone at CBS Network and Studio for their support. To have had this opportunity to work again with the incomparable Mark Harmon, Sean Harmon, our writers, and the best cast and crew in the business — how lucky am I? I can’t wait to see what this extraordinary group cooks up for season three,” Monreal said in a statement via Deadline.
Deadline also reported that Amy Reisenbach, president of entertainment of CBS, and David Stapf, CBS studio president stated, “Gina has been an important beloved member of the NCIS family for many years. We are incredibly grateful to her for helping launch and steer NCIS Origins, and bringing these incredible characters and stories to life. We look forward to working with her again in the future on new projects, and know the creative foundation she helped build will continue to thrive.”
Deadline noted that the second season of NCIS:Origins will return to CBS on March 3.