CBS announces plans for NCIS: Origins show about young Gibbs

Well, this was not on our NCIS bingo board. The franchise has done a terrific job of expanding its reach with spinoffs and international programming like NCIS: Sydney, and now, it will go back in time to focus on the origin of its most famous character: Leroy Jethro Gibbs.

That's right: NCIS is taking a page out of the Young Sheldon playbook and giving fans NCIS: Origins. According to Deadline, the prequel series will take in 1991, when Gibbs was brought out as a special agent at the fledgling NCIS Camp Pendleton office.

It's during these years that the character established his no-nonsense persona, as well as his bond with NCIS officer Mike Franks. The latter was a recurring character in the original NCIS, where he was played by Muse Watson, though he died after being stabbed in season 8.

NCIS: Origins will follow Gibbs during the early 90s

While it can be easy to overlook, NCIS: Origins will not be the first time than fans have gotten to see a young version of Gibbs. There were a total of seven episodes, between the years 2008 and 2020, that had flashbacks with the character, and in each of these instances, he was played by Sean Harmon.

Sean Harmon is, unsurprisingly, the son of the definitive Gibbs actor, Mark Harmon. Both men will serve as executive producers on NCIS: Origins, and Sean even released a statement to Deadline detailing how much the character has meant to his family over the years:

""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.""

Mark Harmon will produce and narrate each episode

The aforementioned Gina and David are Gina Lucita Monreal and David J. North, veteran writers and producers on the original NCIS. They will serve as co-showrunners on NCIS: Origins, and will serve as co-writers on the pilot. Neither Sean nor Mark Harmon will appear as Gibbs onscreen, but the latter will provide narration at the beginning and end of each episode.

Deadline confirmed that an actor has not yet been cast in the role of young Gibbs. That being said, the show is not slated to premiere until the 2024-25 season, so CBS has plenty of time to find the right man for the job.