‘NCIS’ Fans, CBS Just Revealed Epic News About Mark Harmon
It looks like we know more details about who young Gibbs will be hanging out with.
Just weeks after CBS broke the news of Austin Stowell’s casting as the younger version of the fan-favorite NCIS agent, we now have more people joining the cast of NCIS: Origins.
Deadline surprised fans on March 21 when the outlet revealed who would play young Mike Franks, the NCIS agent who led the team Gibbs joined at NIS Camp Pendleton in 1991. According to the outlet, actor Kyle Schmid (last seen in a recurring role on ABC’s Big Sky)will take on the role originated by Muse Watson on the predecessor series. Shortly after the news broke, Kyle expressed his elation for playing such an iconic role with an emotional note on Instagram.
“I’m absolutely thrilled for this,” he captioned the post featuring the images of the article. “Cannot wait to bring this story to life and grateful to Muse Watson for crafting such a dynamic character. Truly wonderful writing and talented cast. Blown away.”
For those who aren’t familiar with Mike Franks in the NCIS franchise, the outlet describes Kyle’s version of the character as “a proud Texan who all but showers in his cowboy boots and sports a perfectly coiffed mustache that’s as thick as his skin.” He’s also a leader, moral compass makes him “determined whose to find justice by any necessary means.”
As for the original iteration of the role, Muse’s personification of Franks was seen in a recurring role throughout the first eight seasons of NCIS. He was mortally stabbed in season 8, but Gibbs often saw him appear in ghost-like ways whenever he needed advice on rough cases.
In a reveal made by Deadline on March 15, actress Mariel Molino will be playing the female lead alongside Austin’s Gibbs, portraying Special Agent Lala Dominguez. What’s more, Mariel confirmed the news herself with screenshots of the article posted on Instagram the same day. “Here we goooooo back to the ’90s!!! 💋 Lala 🖤 #ncisorigins #ncis,” she ecstatically wrote.
As for Mariel role on the series, Lala is described as a former Marine, who works her way through the male-dominated world of NCIS with “a steely resolve and dark sense of humor.” She also has the pleasure of Gibbs joining her team, with the duo creating “sparks and turns that will keep the audience guessing.”
If this doesn’t hype us even further to see NCIS: Origins, we don’t know what will …
NCIS fans, let us re-introduce you to Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
Less than two months after the hit TV franchise announced NCIS: Origins was in the works, it looks like we now know who will play the younger version of the man made famous by actor Mark Harmon. In a new announcement made by Deadline on March 4, fans learned actor Austin Stowell is set to step into Gibbs’ shoes and play the government agent during his first years on the job.
What’s more, the show’s official Instagram celebrated the news by sharing a screenshot of the article online. “#NCISverse, meet Gibbs… again. 👋,” read the caption.
When fans learned about the surprise casting news, they immediately bombarded the comments with words of congratulations. “Congrats buddy!!! Such great news 👏,” one person exclaimed. “@amstowell is my fav!!! So excited for this,” another added. “So exciting! Congrats @amstowell 👏👏👏,” a different viewer added.
The news of Austin joining the franchise isn’t the only big news NCIS has in store. Longtime fans will soon get to see O.G. cast members Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo star in a spinoff series about their characters Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David.
We seriously can’t wait!
Well, NCIS fans, it looks like we’re about to get a brand-new story from one of the most beloved characters in the franchise.
Back in 2021, fans of the CBS drama were heartbroken after learning that Mark Harmon was leaving the show after 19 seasons. Now, however, fans will have the chance to reconnect with Leroy Jethro Gibbs in a completely new way.
Per Deadline, CBS announced the order of a new series in the hit TV franchise, a prequel show titled NCIS: Origins. Premiering sometime during the 2024-2025 season, Mark and his son, Sean Harmon (who also portrays a version of Gibbs), will executive produce the show, with NCIS writer-producers Gina Lucita Monreal and David J. North attached to the project as producers and showrunners. What’s more, Mark will also narrate the new series.
“We are elated and honored to continue the expansion of the NCIS universe in such a unique and unexpected way,” said Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment in a statement, per Variety. “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 .”
As for what NCIS: Origins will be about, an official press release states the show will take place in 1991 and see Gibs as a new special agent at the NCIS Camp Pendleton office. It’s there that he will have to prove his place on a “ragtag team led by NCIS legend Mike Franks.”
While other details about NCIS: Origins are currently under wraps, Sean also shared his excitement in bringing his dad’s iconic role back to life in a whole new way.
“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,” Sean added. “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.”
Well, you best believe we’ll be keeping an eye out for this!
