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NCIS: Origins showrunner explains why Gibbs prequel is so important

It's the prequel fans needed, even if they didn't know it.

By Danilo Castro

NCIS: ORIGINS follows a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Austin Stowell) in 1991, years prior to the events of NCIS, and is 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 (Kyle Schmid). NCIS: ORIGINS stars Austin Stowell as young Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Kyle Schmid as Mike Franks, Mariel Molino as Special Agent Lala Dominguez, Tyla
NCIS: ORIGINS follows a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Austin Stowell) in 1991, years prior to the events of NCIS, and is 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 (Kyle Schmid). NCIS: ORIGINS stars Austin Stowell as young Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Kyle Schmid as Mike Franks, Mariel Molino as Special Agent Lala Dominguez, Tyla /
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NCIS: Origins is new territory for the franchise. It's the first time an NCIS show will be set in the past, and the first that attempts to tell the backstory of already established characters. The formula up to now has been to introduce new agents and follow them on their investigations.

NCIS: Origins will maintain the case of the week format, but there will be more of a focus on drama and backstory than ever before. Some have questioned whether a prequel for Leroy Jethro Gibbs, someone who led NCIS for nearly two decades, is even necessary. Origins co-showrunner Mark D. Cross assures the world that it us.

Mark D. Cross claims fans will learn more about Gibbs

NCIS: ORIGINS
NCIS: ORIGINS follows a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Austin Stowell) in 1991, years prior to the events of NCIS, and is 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 (Kyle Schmid). NCIS: ORIGINS stars Austin Stowell as young Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Kyle Schmid as Mike Franks, Mariel Molino as Special Agent Lala Dominguez, Tyla /

Cross recently talked with TV Line about the show, and how it will flesh out details about Gibbs that were only hinted at previously. "They don’t know as much as they think they do," he asserted. The co-showrunner, who shares duties with Gina Lucita Monreal, also had this to say:

"Seeing Gibbs arrive at NIS on Day 1, and seeing how Gibbs became Gibbs…? You will realize there’s so much to explore."

Monreal backed up Cross' claims, and pointed to the relationship between Gibbs (Austin Stowell) and Michael Franks (Kyle Schmid) as a prime example. She noted that Gibbs is a different man on his first day, and that he's yet to shape all of the worldviews that made him such a dominant force in the OG NCIS.

Gibbs' relationship with Michael Franks will be explored

Enter Sandman
"Enter Sandman" -- Coverage of the CBS Original Series NCIS: ORIGINS, scheduled to air on the CBS Television Network. Pictured: Kyle Schmid as Mike Franks. Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved. /

Franks, who played a supporting role in the flagship series, will help to shape some of these worldviews. He's the NCIS veteran who takes Gibbs under his wing, and shows him that there's far more to the world, and justice, in particular, than he anticipated. "It gives Gibbs a different kind of shading than we’ve seen before as a character," Monreal added.

It helps knowing that Mark Harmon and his son Sean (who played young Gibbs in NCIS flashbacks) are onboard as producers. The former will also provide narration, further strengthening the bond between the past and present. We're ready for Gibbs' return.

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