When it came to taking on the role of a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs, actor Austin Stowell had his work cut out for him as the star of the hit prequel series NCIS: Origins. For over two decades, Mark Harmon played the older version of the character, and Stowell still feels like he’ll never get fully comfortable in the role.
Stowell and co-star Mariel Molino fielded some questions about NCIS: Origins while at the Monte-Carlo TV Festival, per Deadline. Concerning playing Gibbs, Stowell shared that the role is no less nerve-wracking now than it was at the start, even with the success of the first season. While he likes the challenge as an actor, feeling he can actually “thrive” in these instances, Stowell still feels like the role belongs to Harmon.
“I was scared for so many reasons,” Stowell explained about joining the show. “There were just so many first times. For me, it was the first time doing a network TV show, first time playing a character that had already been portrayed before me, first time to be number one on a call sheet.”
I was scared for so many reasons.
The actor added, “I’m someone who likes pressure; I like to be put in that situation. I want the ball in my hands at the bottom of the ninth. I feel like I do thrive in that situation. But I don’t think I’ll ever quite get comfortable because, at the end of the day, Gibbs will always be Mark Harmon’s character, and I’m playing the younger version of that.”
In the series, Molino plays the role of Lala, a character who has not been featured in the original NCIS show. That leaves the door open for Molino to potentially appear in a future episode of NCIS, and Molino suggested that Monica Bellucci (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice) would be the ideal casting choice for the older Lala. Of course, that is assuming that Lala is not killed off during the events of NCIS: Origins, which is another big possibility. The character’s fate is something that fans are waiting to learn about when the second season arrives.
“If she is [alive], I hope that finally something happens with Lala and Gibbs,” Molino said. “You know what I mean, come on, either kiss me or don’t.”
Fans Are Waiting for Season 2
The prequel series was developed by Gina Lucita Monreal and David J. North. Kyle Schmid also stars as Special Agent Mike Franks, the younger version of the character played by Muse Watson in NCIS. Also starring are Tyla Abercrumbie as Mary Jo Hayes, Diany Rodriguez as Vera Strickland, and Caleb Foote as Bernard “Randy” Randolf.
