Gibbs Prequel Surprises: Another Original NCIS Character Joins!

The upcoming NCIS spinoff, NCIS: Origins, has revealed another familiar character set to appear in the series. After more than two years since Mark Harmon’s unexpected departure from the long-standing CBS show, news surfaced that Harmon would be making a return to the NCIS universe. He is set to narrate the prequel, which delves into the early years of Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Harmon will also serve as an executive producer on the project, which will introduce a younger version of Mike Franks.

As per reports from TVLine, the NCIS prequel will feature a youthful portrayal of Special Agent Vera Strickland, a character originally portrayed by Roma Maffia in a single appearance during NCIS season 11’s “Under the Radar” episode in 2013. The episode disclosed Strickland’s past as Franks’ partner.

Set in 1991, the prequel will focus on Gibbs’ initial journey as a Special Agent at the NCIS Camp Pendleton office. The narrative revolves around Gibbs assembling a tenacious team led by NCIS legend Mike Franks, a role portrayed by Muse Watson in the original series. Franks, introduced in NCIS season 3, continued to have a significant impact, even appearing to Gibbs in later seasons as a guiding figure after his character’s season 8 demise.

While casting decisions for the prequel are yet to be announced, it has been confirmed that Sean Harmon, Mark Harmon’s son and a contributor to the show’s development, will not be reprising the role of the younger Gibbs. Instead, he will be involved in the executive production alongside Mark Harmon, David J. North, and Gina Lucita Monreal. The latter pair will co-write the premiere episode and take on showrunner duties.

The new NCIS spinoff will maintain continuity behind the scenes, as David J. North, working on the main NCIS series with Steven D. Binder, will continue in his role. This approach aligns with CBS’s successful precedent, particularly evident in the spinoff prequel Young Sheldon. Despite genre differences, a series focused on Gibbs could potentially flourish given Harmon’s established fan base and network support.