For two decades, NCIS has mastered the art of surprise — shocking character exits, emotional deaths, and crossover events that unite the franchise’s many branches. The three-way crossover in 2023 between NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, and NCIS: Hawai‘i remains one of its most ambitious TV moments. But in 2025, CBS is attempting something even more daring: a crossover between the flagship show and its newest prequel, NCIS: Origins.
The twist? These two shows don’t exist in the same timeline.
‘NCIS: Origins’ Meets the Present Day
Origins, which stars Austin Stowell as a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs, has taken fans back to the 1990s — long before Mark Harmon’s Gibbs became the iconic team leader we know today. It has broken new ground as the franchise’s first prequel, and now it’s set to intertwine with the 23rd season of NCIS in a special two-hour event on Veterans Day, November 11.
The crossover will begin in Origins with a case involving the suspicious death of a naval officer in the ’90s. Decades later, that same case resurfaces in NCIS, pulling Alden Parker (Gary Cole), Nick Torres (Wilmer Valderrama), and the current team into the mystery.
As CBS teased in its announcement: “It’s the case that just keeps coming back.”
Bridging a 30-Year Gap
The question on everyone’s mind is obvious: how do you make two shows, separated by 30 years, feel like they’re in direct conversation with each other?
Instead of leaning on science fiction tropes like time travel, the crossover will likely use case files, forensics, and character callbacks to connect the dots. Viewers might see Mike Franks’ signature on a long-forgotten report in Origins — then watch the NCIS team handle the fallout of those decisions in the present day. It’s a clever way to let the two timelines “speak” to each other without breaking the grounded tone of the franchise.
The Importance of Tone and Detail
Pulling this off will require meticulous writing. The suspense has to carry seamlessly across both episodes, and the details of the investigation must line up. Why wasn’t the case solved back then? What evidence is only coming to light now? If the writers get it right, it won’t just feel like back-to-back episodes — it’ll feel like a true event that bends time without breaking it.
The crossover also offers the chance to weave in emotional stakes. Parker’s grief after Season 22, Torres’ struggles with loyalty, and unresolved arcs from Origins — such as the fate of Lala (Mariel Molino) — could all play into how the decades-spanning mystery unfolds.
A Tribute and a Tease
CBS has already confirmed one nostalgic touch: a young version of Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard, played by Adam Campbell, will appear in Origins. This tribute to the late David McCallum opens the door for other legacy tie-ins, even if just through files, flashbacks, or guest appearances. For longtime fans, these Easter eggs could be what elevates the crossover from clever to iconic.
Why This Could Be the Franchise’s Boldest Swing Yet
Yes, the 2023 three-show crossover was big. But this? This is different. NCIS is attempting to link two timelines separated by three decades, honoring its past while keeping its present fresh. If successful, it could become one of the franchise’s defining moments — the day NCIS quite literally defied time.
