New NCIS Series Officially Confirmed With Iconic Franchise Star Returning

A brand-new NCIS series is officially on the way, with a familiar face leading the franchise’s latest expansion​​​​.

The long-running NCIS franchise has continued to grow over the years, spawning multiple successful spin-offs across different locations, including Los Angeles, New Orleans, and Hawaii. Since its debut in 2003, the procedural has become one of television’s most durable series, consistently ranking among the most-watched shows and building a global audience through its mix of crime-solving, character dynamics, and serialized storytelling.

According to CBS’s newly announced 2026–2027 fall schedule, the new series, titled NCIS: New York, has officially been ordered. The show will be led by LL Cool J, who is set to reprise his role as Special Agent Sam Hanna, marking the return of one of the franchise’s most iconic characters. In addition, it will join the Tuesday schedule, airing at 9 pm ET. The flagship show will maintain the 8 pm timeslot, while Origins moves to 10 pm.

The new series will follow Sam Hanna as he returns to his hometown of New York City, where he joins a new NCIS field office and partners with a roguish agent played by Scott Caan. Together, they will lead a team tackling high-stakes cases tied to one of the most important cities and ports in the world.

Sam Hanna has been a central figure in the NCIS universe for over a decade, first appearing in the original series before becoming a co-lead on NCIS: Los Angeles, which ran for 14 seasons. The character, a former Navy SEAL turned NCIS agent, has also appeared in other spin-offs, making him one of the franchise’s most recognizable and enduring characters.

NCIS: New York continues to reinforce the network’s continued commitment to the franchise. The new show will be part of an all-NCIS programming block on Tuesday nights, airing alongside the flagship series and NCIS: Origins. This scheduling strategy highlights the network’s confidence in the franchise’s ongoing popularity and its ability to anchor an entire night of primetime television.

The choice to set the series in New York City also opens the door for the series to explore a broader range of cases while maintaining the character-driven focus that defines the franchise. With its dense population, global significance, and high-profile security concerns, the city provides a natural setting for complex investigations and large-scale operations.

Notably, LL Cool J will serve as executive producer for the show, alongside R. Scott Gemmill, Jason Barrett, and Byron Balasco, who will also serve as showrunner.

At the same time, bringing back Special Agent Sam Hanna offers a strong sense of continuity for longtime viewers. His history across the NCIS universe gives the new series an immediate connection to the entire franchise, while his return to his hometown adds a personal dimension that could lead the character to new emotional territory and shape the story in new ways.