For more than two decades, the NCIS franchise has delivered unforgettable characters, jaw-dropping cases, and emotional goodbyes that keep fans coming back season after season. But now, CBS is about to raise the stakes with a crossover event unlike anything we’ve seen before — one that unites the present-day NCIS team with NCIS: Origins, the prequel series following a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the 1990s.
The announcement, revealed on September 4 in a playful video featuring Wilmer Valderrama (Nick Torres, NCIS) and Austin Stowell (young Gibbs, NCIS: Origins), instantly set the fandom on fire.
A Case Spanning Decades
“Hi, I’m Wilmer Valderrama from NCIS, coming to you from present day,” Valderrama begins in the clip.
“And I’m Austin Stowell from NCIS: Origins, coming to you from the ’90s,” Stowell continues.
Then comes the twist: “Get ready for a crossover event like no other. We’ll work a case that spans over decades,” Valderrama teases.
That single line was enough to send longtime fans into a frenzy. For the first time ever, NCIS will weave together two timelines — exploring how choices made in the past ripple into the present.
Why This Crossover Matters
Crossovers are nothing new in the NCIS universe — NCIS: LA, NCIS: Hawai’i, and even Hawaii Five-0 have teamed up in the past. But this event is different. By merging NCIS with its prequel, the franchise is connecting its legacy with its future.
It also opens the door for fascinating storytelling possibilities. What unfinished case from the 1990s could resurface in the modern day? How might Gibbs’ early years at Camp Pendleton influence Torres and the current MCRT team? And could this crossover bring long-awaited Easter eggs about Gibbs’ life before his time in D.C.?
When and Where to Watch
The crossover will premiere on Veterans Day, Tuesday, November 11, 2025, with both NCIS Season 23 and NCIS: Origins Season 2 tying into the same storyline. Fans can expect two episodes — one set in the ’90s, one in the present — connected by a single case that stretches across three decades.
CBS has yet to reveal episode titles or plot specifics, but the promise of intertwining timelines has already cemented this event as a franchise first.
Fan Reactions: “I Can’t Wait!”
Within minutes of the announcement, social media lit up with excitement:
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“I seriously can’t wait 🤩🤩.”
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“Awesome!!! I didn’t think you all would do it this year!!! Yay!!!”
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“Omg I can’t wait for this!!!! It’s a good day for the NCIS world!! 🙌❤️.”
Clearly, after 20+ years, NCIS still knows how to surprise its audience.
The Legacy of Ducky Continues
This isn’t the only time past and present will collide this fall. In late August, TV Insider confirmed that Adam Campbell will reprise his role as a young Donald “Ducky” Mallard in NCIS: Origins. The episode, titled “The Edge,” will see Ducky visit Camp Pendleton to shadow the team — and reconnect with Gibbs, planting the seeds of the legendary friendship that became a cornerstone of the original series.
The timing feels especially poignant. Following the 2023 passing of David McCallum, who portrayed Ducky for nearly two decades, revisiting the character’s origins adds emotional weight to this crossover moment.
Why Fans Should Be Excited
This crossover isn’t just a ratings stunt — it’s a love letter to the NCIS legacy. By linking the origins of Gibbs’ career with the present-day team, CBS is building a bridge that honors the past while setting the stage for the franchise’s future.
And for fans who have stuck with the show through goodbyes, spinoffs, and shocking deaths, it’s proof that NCIS can still surprise us after all these years.
Mark your calendars: November 11 is about to be one for the books in NCIS history.
