NCIS: Origins
Genre
Creator
  • Gina Lucita Monreal
  • David J. North
Starring
NarratorMark Harmon
LanguageEnglish
Num series2
Num episodes36
Executive producer
Composer
ProducerMichele Greco
Austin Stowell
Editor
  • Brian Wessel
  • Kyle Keris
  • Mats Abbott
  • Imelda Betiong
  • Tirsa Hackshaw
  • Keith Henderson
  • Matthew Wingard
Runtime42–44 minutes
Company
NetworkCBS
First airedOctober 14, 2024
Last airedpresent
Related

NCIS: Origins is an American police procedural television series, and the sixth installment in the NCIS franchise. It is a prequel to the original series and follows a younger Leroy Jethro Gibbs during his early career years as a Probationary NIS Agent while still processing the trauma of the murder of his wife and daughter.

The series premiered on October 14, 2024, on CBS. In February 2025, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on October 14, 2025.[1][2][3][4] In January 2026, it was renewed for a third season.[5]

Synopsis

NCIS: Origins follows a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs in 1991, a decade prior to the events of NCIS, and is narrated by the older Gibbs. In the series, Gibbs starts his career as a newly minted special agent at the fledgling NIS Camp Pendleton office, where he forges his place on a gritty, ragtag team led by NCIS legend Mike Franks.[6]

Cast

Main

Recurring

  • Tonantzin Carmelo as Tish Kwa'la, Mike Franks' girlfriend and "love of his life" until episode 15[8]
  • Patrick Fischler as Special Agent in Charge Cliff Wheeler, head of NIS's Pendleton Office[9]
  • Julian Black Antelope as Chief Medical Examiner Témet Téngalkat, an unfazed, experienced ME with the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office who works alongside NIS; he is a member of the Payómkawichum tribe and the uncle of Tish Kwa'la.
  • Michael Harney as Richard Kowalski, Evidence Custodian, who used to be Army chaplain/POW during the Korean War.
  • Daniel Bellomy as Herman "Herm" Daniels, an NIS agent acting as the Evidence Custodian's assistant[7]
  • Bobby Moynihan as Woodrow "Woody" Browne, a forensic analyst
  • Ely Henry as Philip Elertson, a chemist who works with Woody
  • Matthew Henerson as Carl Loughlin, an NIS agent
  • Eric Normington as Roger Murphy, a former NIS agent who had a gambling problem
  • Aaron Wilton as Special Agent JJ Henneberry, an NIS agent
  • Marisa Baram as Gail Price, an NIS secretary
  • Robert Taylor as Jackson Gibbs, Jethro's father. The character was played by Ralph Waite in the original series before his death in 2014.[7]
  • Jared Bankens as Jamison "Bugs" Boyd, a criminal profiled by Vera
  • Lori Petty as Dr. Lenora Friedman, an assistant medical examiner
  • Adam Huber as Luke Fletcher, counselor at the VA, real Sandman
  • Jeffrey Boehm as Dalton, an NIS agent
  • Michael Shepperd as Smitty, bartender at Daly's tavern
  • Eddie Alfano as Todd, a bouncer at Daly's Tavern.
  • Kathleen Kenny as Diane Sterling, a Real Estate Agent and Leroy Gibb’s second wife. Melinda McGraw played the character in original series.
  • Christopher Backus as Abe Pruitt, leader of the Range.
  • Daphne Bloomer as Beth, member of the Range.
  • Julien Crane as Stanley Turner, member of the Range.
  • Kayla Maisonet as Nadia, a NIS secretary
  • Miguel Gomez as Manny, a gang member who starts a relationship with Lala
  • Philip Winchester as Mason Franks, Mike Franks' brother[10]
  • Gabriel Mann as Doug Westmont, a shady lawyer.

Guest

  • DaJuan Johnson as FBI Agent Noah Oakley who works cases with the team and has a romantic past with Cliff Wheeler
  • Lucas Dixon as FBI Special Agent Tobias C. Fornell. Joe Spano played the character in the original series.
  • Claire Berger as Lara Macy. Lala's friend; military police investigator. Louise Lombard played the character in the original series' future Special Agent in Charge at the Office of Special Projects in Los Angeles.
  • Adam Campbell as Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard, a liaison from D.C. headquarters and an old acquaintance of Gibbs. David McCallum played the character in the original series before his death in 2023. Campbell reprises the role after portraying the young Ducky in four episodes of the original series.[11]
  • Kelly Albanese as Julie Larsen, Lala’s Sister
  • Thomas Crawford as Dr. Walter Magnus, Medical Examiner with NIS Headquarters at the Navy Yard in D.C. and NIS Chief Medical Examiner before Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard. Bob Newhart played the character in an episode of the original series.
  • Shea Buckner as Dwayne Pride, a Sheriff's deputy turned NIS probie assigned to the NIS office in Panama who has a turbulent history with Gibbs. Pride was the protagonist of NCIS: New Orleans where he was played by Scott Bakula.

Production

NCIS: Origins was announced in January 2024, with franchise mainstays Gina Lucita Monreal and David J. North acting as showrunners. The series is executive produced by Mark Harmon and his son Sean Harmon, who had played a younger Gibbs in flashback sequences on the original show.[12]

Austin Stowell was cast as Gibbs in March.[6] Before Stowell was cast, Stephen Amell auditioned for the role.[13] Mariel Molino, Kyle Schmid, Tyla Abercrombie and Diany Rodriguez completed the main cast in March.[14][15][16]

Lori Petty and Bobby Moynihan joined the cast in July.[17]

On November 7, 2024, CBS granted the series a full season order with an additional 5 episodes bringing the total episode count to 18 episodes.[18]

The show is filmed on a 1990s era recreated set of Camp Pendleton, built at Fort MacArthur, a former Army installation in San Pedro.[19]

Release

The series premiered on October 14, 2024, on CBS.[20][21] The first season consists of 18 episodes. Its episodes stream on Paramount+.

In Canada, the series airs on Global and is streaming on StackTV.[22]

In Southeast Asia, the series airs on AXN Asia.

Reception

Pre-release

The announcement of NCIS: Origins resulted in the cancellation of NCIS: Hawaiʻi, leading to several angered fans boycotting Origins.[23]

Critical response

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 88% based on 8 reviews, with an average rating of 5.60/10.[24]

References

  1. ^ Rice, Lynette (February 20, 2025). "CBS Renews Tracker, Elsbeth, Fire Country And NCIS Dramas". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
  2. ^ Hailu, Selome (February 20, 2025). "Tracker Renewed at CBS Along With Ghosts, NCIS, Fire Country and More". Variety. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
  3. ^ Jacobs, Meredith (February 20, 2025). "CBS Renews NCIS, Elsbeth, Fire Country & 6 More — Which Shows Could Be Canceled?". TV Insider. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
  4. ^ Luther, Rebecca (February 20, 2025). "CBS Renews Ghosts, NCIS: Origins and 7 Other Shows — Which Series Are Still in Limbo?". TVLine. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
  5. ^ Jacobs, Meredith (2026-01-22). "CBS Renews ‘NCIS,’ ‘Tracker,’ ‘Matlock’ & 7 More Shows for 2026-2027 Season". TV Insider. Retrieved 2026-01-22.
  6. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (March 4, 2024). "NCIS: Origins Finds Its Young Gibbs: Austin Stowell To Star In CBS Prequel Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived March 4, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  7. ^ Cordero, Rosy (April 18, 2024). "NCIS: Origins Casts Daniel Bellomy, Caleb Martin Foote & Robert Taylor In Recurring Roles". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  8. ^ Mitovitch, Matt (October 18, 2024). "Matt's Inside Line: Scoop on NCIS: Origins, Chicago P.D., Daryl Dixon, Ghosts, Found, Anansi Boys, Criminal Minds, Chicken Sisters and More!". TVLine. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  9. ^ Petski, Denise (May 8, 2024). "NCIS: Origins Prequel Adds Patrick Fischler & Julian Black Antelope To Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Archived May 15, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  10. ^ https://screenrant.com/ncis-spinoff-casts-svu-star-as-brother-of-major-character/
  11. ^ Porter, Rick (28 August 2025). "‘NCIS: Origins’ Enlists Adam Campbell to Reprise Young Ducky Role". The Hollywood Reporter. The Hollywood Reporter. Archived 5 September 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  12. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (January 5, 2024). "NCIS: Origins Prequel About Young Gibbs Ordered By CBS From Mark Harmon, Sean Harmon, Gina Lucita Monreal & David J. North". Deadline Hollywood. Archived January 5, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  13. ^ https://deadline.com/2024/09/stephen-amell-ncis-origins-audition-leroy-jethro-gibbs-1236092284/
  14. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (March 15, 2024). "NCIS: Origins Sets Mariel Molino To Join Austin Stowell In CBS Prequel Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  15. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (March 21, 2024). "NCIS: Origins Sets Kyle Schmid To Play Mike Franks In CBS Prequel Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  16. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (March 26, 2024). "NCIS: Origins Prequel Adds Tyla Abercrumbie & Diany Rodriguez To Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  17. ^ Rice, Lynette (July 13, 2024). "NCIS: Origins Adds Lori Petty & Bobby Moynihan". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  18. ^ Cordero, Rosy (November 7, 2024). "Poppa's House & NCIS: Origins Land Full Season Orders At CBS". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
  19. ^ Singh, Sartaj (October 14, 2024). "Where is NCIS Origins Filmed?". The Cinemaholic. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  20. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 2, 2024). "CBS 2024-25 Schedule: Tracker Shifts, NCIS: Origins & Georgie & Mandy Succeed Hawai'i & Young Sheldon, The Amazing Race Held". Deadline Hollywood. Archived May 27, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  21. ^ Pedersen, Erik (July 13, 2024). "CBS Fall Premiere Dates: Blue Bloods Final Episodes, FBI Trio, Matlock Reboot, Survivor & More". Deadline Hollywood. Archived July 20, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  22. ^ "GLOBAL ANNOUNCES 2024/25 BROADCAST SEASON LINEUP OVERFLOWING WITH THE MOSTBUZZ WORTHY ACQUISITIONS AND TV's #1 RETURNING HIT SHOWS - Corus Entertainment"
  23. ^ Ngimbi, Emmanuella (May 15, 2024). "NCIS: Hawaii fans threaten to 'boycott' new franchise addition following cancellation". Daily Express. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
  24. ^ "NCIS: Origins". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 19, 2024.