The latest entry to the NCIS franchise, NCIS: Origins, follows a younger version of Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Recently, the series co-showrunner elaborated on the role Mark Harmon, Gibbs’ original actor, will play.
NCIS’s upcoming sixth installment, NCIS Origins, follows a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs, a newcomer to the series and the original protagonist. Young Gibbs will be portrayed by Austin Stowell; however, co-showrunners David J. North and Gina Monreal explained in an interview with TVLine Harmon’s interesting role in handling young Gibbs as a character.
Harmon, as both an executive producer and the original Gibbs, knows the character. Harmon will reprise his role as Gibbs but will take on a smaller role as narrator. However, when North was asked if Harmon was protective of the character, he answered, “No, he’s as hands-on as we want him to be”. North Continues, ”[Harmon] is there for us to talk through things, if Gina and I can’t come to a consensus on something. If we’re not sure which way to go, left or right at a fork in the road, and we need another opinion, he’s there for us. Mark’s not going to bulls–t you. And he’s certainly there for Austin, which has been a huge thing and obviously is important to us.”
Origins Will Show Gibbs and Franks Dynamic
As an origin story for Gibbs, it should be no surprise that many younger versions of the series and other characters will appear. Taking place in 1991, Origins is going to show off the starting dynamic between Gibbs and Special Agent Mike Franks. Monreal describes them as the “Boss and Probie.”
She added, “The way that Austin [Stowell] is playing it, the way he looks at Franks, you can see the bit of awe in his eyes, which is so interesting for both of the characters.” North adds his two cents, expanding upon his excitement for the characters, “I describe them as ‘there’s nothing I love writing more.’ Seeing Gibbs in these situations that you could have never imagined Mark in has been wonderful.”
Kyle Schmid will play Franks, who Muse Watson originally played. NCIS has been on the air since 2003 and has a truly staggering 1007 episodes and 46 seasons. With that being said, NCIS: Origins, being a prequel, is notably a new take on the franchise and vastly differs from the linear storylines typical of the series spin-offs.
NCIS: Origins premieres October 14th on CBS.
