NCIS: Origins Prequel Series Finds Its Young Leroy Jethro Gibbs

While Mark Harmon will serve as the narrator, NCIS: Origins will introduce a new actor as the young Leroy Jethro Gibbs.

er The Hollywood Reporter, it’s been revealed who will play the younger Gibbs in the upcoming NCIS prequel series. Austin Stowell has been tapped to play the role of Gibbs, and his real-life age, 39, coincides with the prequel beginning about 12 years before the start of Mark Harmon’s run playing the character in 2003, when he was 51. Harmon will be providing the voice of the older Gibbs as the show’s narrator, and the actor is also serving as a producer on the series.

The NCIS EPs have explained why Mark Harmon didn’t return as Gibbs as some fans expected in the Ducky tribute episode.

Austin Stowell previously got involved with the NCIS franchise with a guest role in a 2010 episode of NCIS: Los Angeles. He is also known for starring in Hulu’s miniseries Catch-22, and he’s had roles in the TV shows The White Lotus, A Friend of the Family, and The Secret Life of the American Teenager. The actor also starred in the Dolphin Tale movies and had roles in other films including Whiplash, Battle of the Sexes, and Fantasy Island.

The Gibbs character was played by Mark Harmon in the original NCIS series until the actor’s exit from the role in Season 19. Harmon’s real-life son, Sean Harmon, also briefly played a younger Gibbs in flashback sequences in NCIS. Both Harmons are serving as executive producers on NCIS: Origins. The premiere episode will be written by NCIS vets David J. North and Gina Lucita Monreal. The two also serve as co-showrunners and will executive produce with the Harmons.

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NCIS: Origins will explore the early days of Gibbs starting his career as a new special agent for the NIS Camp Pendleton office. He joins a ragtag team led by Mike Franks, a character who appeared in the original series as played by Muse Watson.

Another New Spinoffs Is in the Works for NCIS

It was recently announced that another spinoff series had been ordered for the franchise. Set in Europe, a new show will bring back Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo to reprise their fan favorite roles as Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David. Meanwhile, the main series is still ongoing with no plans to wrap up in the near future. Other spinoffs that are ongoing include NCIS: Hawai’i and NCIS: Sydney.

NCIS: Origins will debut on CBS during the 2024-25 season, but an exact premiere date has yet to be announced.