Mark Harmon’s Gibbs Officially Returns to NCIS After 4 Years in Shocking Crossover Trailer

A trailer for the much-anticipated crossover between NCIS and NCIS: Origins finally brings Mark Harmon back to the franchise. The very brief promo trailer features a transition between Mark Harmon portraying Leroy Jethro Gibbs and Austin Stowell as the younger version of the NCIS character.

The trailer begins with FBI Special Agent Alden Parker (Gary Cole) stating that an inmate has escaped from federal prison. He then says that it’s one of Gibbs’ first cases, as we watch Gibbs transform from an older Mark Harmon in the present day to the younger Austin Stowell in the past. This marks the first crossover for NCIS: Origins after the show debuted in October 2024. NCIS has been the focal point of several crossovers in the NCIS Universe and beyond, with examples of the latter being crossovers with Magnum P.I. and Hawaii Five-0.

Mark Harmon Isn’t Done With the NCIS Franchise

Image via CBS

Even though Mark Harmon stepped away from NCIS in 2021 as an on-air personality, Mark Harmon has remained with the iconic CBS franchise behind the scenes. Harmon’s voice is the narrator on NCIS: Origins and is also an executive producer on the show. As the NCIS and NCIS: Origins promo above demonstrates, he’s also comfortable stepping back in front of the camera, albeit for a short moment. Harmon also makes a brief appearance as Gibbs in the first episode of NCIS: Origins.

NCIS: Origins explores the early days of Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ career as he joins the Pendleton branch of the Naval Investigative Service, which is the precursor to NCIS. The crossover’s story finds the younger Gibbs and the team investigating the death of a naval officer in the ’90s, with the case reopened in the present day. The decades-spanning mystery in the NCIS crossover switches up the broadcasting order for NCIS and NCIS: Origins, with the latter jumping to the 8 p.m. ET/PT slot, and the former following at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

“Four years ago, Gibbs disappeared to Alaska to live a life of solitude,” said co-showrunners and executive producers David J. North and Gina Lucita Monreal. “We know how much fans have missed seeing Mark and have wondered what Gibbs is up to today. Well, on Nov. 11, we’re so excited to announce that Mark Harmon will return as Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the Origins hour of the NCIS crossover event. We don’t want to give too much away, but let’s just say Gibbs is no longer alone.”

“I’m very proud of the storytelling that David and Gina are doing on Origins,” Harmon said. “They continue to push boundaries and dive deeper into the characters’ backstories. They came to me with an idea for Gibbs that I liked, and it seemed like a good time to check in with him. I hope fans enjoy it.”