Fans hoping to see Special Agent Marty Deeks back on NCIS won’t get their wish. Eric Christian Olsen, who portrayed Deeks throughout all 14 seasons of NCIS: Los Angeles, recently confirmed he has no plans to reprise the role.
At a press event for the new CBS series Matlock, where he serves as executive producer, Olsen explained his reasons for stepping back from the character. He expressed his fondness for former co-stars, mentioning he had recently texted Renée Felice Smith and often sees Daniela Ruah. However, he made it clear that he is “not so much” interested in returning to the role of Deeks. Instead, Olsen is excited about Matlock, which he described as providing “really good, dramatic or funny scenes” that he enjoys creatively.
NCIS: Los Angeles debuted in September 2009 as the first spinoff of the NCIS franchise, following Special Agents Sam Hanna and Grisha Callen as they investigated military-related crimes. The show concluded in May 2023, making it the second NCIS series to end, after NCIS: New Orleans.
While Olsen may be stepping back, another familiar face is returning to the NCIS universe. Mark Harmon will reprise his role as Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the upcoming prequel series, NCIS: Origins. This new show will explore Gibbs’ early career, with Harmon not only making a cameo but also serving as narrator and executive producer, while Austin Stowell will play the younger version of Gibbs.
As for the upcoming season of NCIS, showrunner Steven D. Binder hinted at a unique episode inspired by characters like Jason Bourne and James Bond, exploring what happens when such skilled individuals face the challenges of aging.
