The world of NCIS got even bigger in 2021 with the arrival of new series NCIS: Hawai’i and, as expected, the show just keeps getting stronger.
Starring Love Is Blind presenter Vanessa Lachey as Jane Tennant, it sees the fearless agent with her hands full after relocating to the Pacific-island state.
But as we all know, it’s never quite that simple, is it?
With the series still going full steam ahead, fans are already discussing whether the show is “one and done” or will continue on, especially considering an Australian version of the series has now been given the green light.
So what’s happening?
Here’s everything you need to know about the future of the crime procedural.
NCIS: Hawai’i season 2 potential release date – when can we see it?
Poké bowls for everyone! In March 2022, NCIS: Hawai’i was renewed for a second season. Despite this, the UK hasn’t even got the show yet – though it may appear on Paramount+, its US streaming home, when the channel launches in June.
There’s more of the team on the horizon too, as the NCIS cast have announced a crossover has been filmed already, tying in the old with the new. It’s not known which version of the franchise arms this crossover will be connected to.
NCIS Hawai’i season 2 cast – Who’s in it?
Vanessa Lachey, who plays leading agent Jane Tennant, will be back.
After all, what’s a force without their star detective?
In January 2022, it was revealed Jane had a connection to Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon) from the original series, after having worked with him. He previously wanted to take her under his wing as a mentor.
If he hasn’t made an appearance by season one’s end, then it seems only a matter of time before he pops up on the island.
Apart from that, it’s not exactly certain who else will return, but seeing as all the other versions of the show – including the original NCIS, plus NCIS: New Orleans and NCIS: LA – all have ensemble returning casts, we should expect the same here.
Vanessa is joined in the cast by The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’s Noah Mills, who plays her second-in-command Jesse Boone.
New Zealand star Alex Tarrant plays Kai Holman, the newest recruit to the NCIS team, having returned to the island to take care of his father.
The Originals’ Yasmine Al Bustami also stars as junior field agent Lucy Tara, who has a developing relationship with Kate Whistler, played by No Tomorrow star Tori Anderson.
Famous In Love star Jason Antoon completes the team as Cyber Intelligence Specialist Ernie, who’s got a penchant for “technology, history, literature and all things Hawaiian”.
NCIS: Hawai’i season 2 plot – What will happen?
NCIS by its nature is a procedural, so every episode the Naval Criminal Investigative Service takes to task a brand new crime in need of cracking.
But the reason it’s become such a beloved franchise is because the show has strong characters for us to root for, and their complicated relationships are always entertaining to watch.
How will Jane continue to balance her work and life? Which office romances will bloom, or fall apart? Are any of the team hiding something?
We’ll find out soon enough, as soon as we get that all-important green light announcement.
Mills would like to see more backstory for Jesse going into season two (via Looper).
“There’s a past that I’d like to expand upon. [My character] was a DC homicide detective and wanted to get out of the urban, bureaucratic energy of DC. There’s a reason he came to Hawai’i that we’re still working on. That would be fun.
“Maybe something a little on the darker side and see a little bit more of the conflict and challenges he’s had and what Hawai’i and being there with his family means to him. I think we’ll get into that. There’s exciting stuff and places for me to go personally, as a character, with Jesse.
“I can send my notes to the writers and be like, ‘What about a towing situation of the wave?’ We have the best watermen in the world there — this guy named Brian Keaulana, my stunt double, and this guy Bryan Phillips, who’s been a lifeguard at Pipeline. We also have Dave Holmes, one of our camera operators who is a legendary water photographer and filmer for surfing.
“We have this amazing capability to really go into the water and film some exciting stuff. We’re working on getting some of that integrated into the storylines and scripts. It’s going to be a kick ass Season 2. I can already feel it.”
The actor would also like to see more crossovers – to match the major NCIS event in 2022 (via Looper).
“A lot of times when you’re on a show, you don’t get the opportunity to be part of a universe like that,” Mills said. “It’s cool that CBS and Paramount are feeling free and loose to mix us. We are all in the same show in the same universe. I was excited.”
“It was fun to mix the shows and know that we can do that again in the future. They’re starting NCIS Sydney, there’s NCIS: Los Angeles. It’s cool to know that potentially I could go and be a guest star on those shows. It builds our brand. I love the way it played out on TV, because it was a really nice, seamless transition into a two-hour block of NCIS. I was like, ‘Wow, this is just like a universe.’ We’re very far in real life, but actually a phone call away.
“I would love to see the guys from NCIS: L.A. come out to Hawai’i. That would be super fun. Eric Olsen is great. Chris O’Donnell and LL Cool J. I think people coming to Hawai’i is already a plot line. There’s already humor and fun things to play there. I think any type of law enforcement or military sector where we can create a character from and bring them to Hawai’i will be super fun.
“There’s so many great actors and characters that could pop up in that manner. It’s a really nice, seamless way to be like, ‘Oh, so and so from the Pentagon is coming out.’ We’ll have a lot of cachet because people want to come to Hawai’i. Plus, our show is great, and we can have that banter with them. I’m sure that they’re lining up some great people for Season 2.”
NCIS: Hawai’i season 2 trailer – when can I see it?
No trailer yet.
We can expect news when the show has been filmed and is ready to return.
Given the sheer number of episodes NCIS Hawai’i goes through, we wouldn’t be surprised if the series returns towards the end of the year. The first season premiered in late September 2021.
If CBS were to match this again, then announcements should be made pretty soon.
