NCIS: Origins bosses teases younger versions of beloved characters

Yes, the whole point of NCIS: Origins is getting see how Leroy Jethro Gibbs came to be the character we know and love. He's going to be younger and less experienced, and that's part of the intrigue of the show. We all knew this going in.

What we didn't know, however, is how many other NCIS characters would be appearing in the prequel series. There are tons of newcomers who will undoubtedly prove crucial to Gibbs' maturation, but the co-showrunners, David North and Gina Monreal, revealed that there may be more cameos and turns from familiar faces. Well, familiar names, at least. The faces will be younger.

NCIS: Origins is open to bringing in established characters

During a recent TV Line interview, North and Monreal teased the possibility of bringing beloved NCIS characters into the mix in order to show how they first crossed paths with the Gibbs character. "I don’t think we want to say no to anything," North noted.

While nothing has been set in stone, the outlet suggested two veteran NCIS characters who may pop up at one point during the prequel. There's Hetty Lange, who was originally played by Linda Hunt, and Dwayne Pride, originally played by Scott Bakula.

Both characters date back to the early days of NCIS, and had pre-established dynamics with Gibbs. It would be an absolute treat to see how they first got into the mix, and how they bonded with Gibbs in the field.

The show will take place a decade plus before NCIS

The fact that North and Monreal are not ruling anything out is a promising sign. The NCIS universe is filled with compelling characters, especially in relation to Gibbs. It seemed as though everybody who spent time on the show knew the character is some meaningful way, so there's lots of possibilities in terms of NCIS: Origins setting up the future.

Of course, this is all dependent on how long the prequel series lasts. If it proves to be a hit, then NCIS: Origins could very well take us all the way (or at least pretty close) to the start of the original series!