NCIS: Origins is set to expand its prequel mythology with the introduction of a young Dwayne Pride in an upcoming 2026 episode. Shea Buckner will play the future NCIS: New Orleans leader, offering fans their first look at how Pride’s bond with Leroy Jethro Gibbs began long before their paths crossed on the flagship series.
According to executive producer David J. North, the episode will “stick to canon,” placing Pride as a newly appointed probationary NIS agent from the Panama office. The story reunites Gibbs, played by Austin Stowell, with Pride during an undercover case that forces them to confront unresolved tension from their shared past. The episode will also feature the original “Fed Five,” including Mike Franks, tying directly into established NCIS lore.
Stowell teased a rocky dynamic, noting that Gibbs’ trust is hard-earned and easily lost. By the episode’s end, however, viewers will see the foundation of the powerful partnership fans recognize — setting the stage for a future defined by loyalty, respect, and high-stakes missions.
