Mark Harmon is returning to the NCIS franchise as narrator and executive producer of NCIS: Origins. CBS has given the show, which will explore Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ younger years, a straight-to-series order.
NCIS fans can expect the origin story to premiere as part of the 2024-2025 primetime season.
“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,” stated executive producer Sean Harmon. “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.”
In addition to Mark and Sean Harmon, the behind-the-scenes team will include David J. North and Gina Lucita Monreal as executive producers, writers, and co-showrunners. North currently handles co-showrunner and executive producer duties on NCIS.
CBS offered this description of the newest addition to the NCIS franchise:
“NCIS: Origins begins in 1991, years prior to the events of NCIS and follows a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs, narrated by Mark Harmon. In the series, Gibbs starts his career as a newly minted special agent at the fledgling NCIS Camp Pendleton office where he forges his place on a gritty, ragtag team led by NCIS legend Mike Franks.”
“We’re thrilled to be bringing this new chapter to life along with Mark and Sean Harmon,” said executive producers and co-showrunners Gina Lucita Monreal and David J. North. “This really is the making of Leroy Jethro Gibbs. And even the most dedicated NCIS fans will discover that they don’t know the whole story.”
Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment, said, “We are elated and honored to continue the expansion of the NCIS universe in such a unique and unexpected way. 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.”
