Ahead of its second season premiere later this year on October 14, NCIS: Origins is paying homage to an original, beloved NCIS character in the coolest way possible. CBS has announced that guest star Adam Campbell will reprise his role as “Young Ducky” in an episode of NCIS: Origins Season 2, which will also serve as a special tribute to the late David McCallum, who played Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard on the flagship series for 20 seasons. McCallum, who is also known for voicing Alfred in various animated Batman movies, passed away on September 25, 2023, at the age of 90.
CBS has also shared some details about the episode in Season 2 that will return Campbell’s Young Ducky to the fold. Ducky will be seen in “The Edge,” which will follow him as he’s sent to Camp Pendleton to shadow the team while they work a case, and he also reconnects with Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Austin Stowell) after they previously crossed paths years earlier. David McCallum’s iconic and unforgettable song, “The Edge,” will also be featured in the episode. Adam Campbell previously played the younger version of McCallum’s Ducky in several episodes of NCIS, but this will mark his debut in the Origins prequel series.
Showrunners and executive producers David J. North and Gina Lucita Monreal opened up about Campbell’s return to NCIS in Origins, saying they “wanted to do this episode to honor the memory of our dear friend David McCallum. He was a beloved member of the NCIS family for so many years, and we’re incredibly lucky to have the talented Adam Campbell bring the younger version of this iconic character to life once again. We even got to feature David’s music in the episode. We’re all very excited and can’t wait for the fans to see it.”
‘NCIS: Origins’ Will Soon Begin Streaming for Free
As part of a recent deal between CBS and Pluto TV, the first season of NCIS: Origins will begin streaming for free at the start of September. New episodes will continue to air on CBS and stream on Paramount+ the following day, but this opens the door for countless new fans to check out the beloved procedural series. Other CBS shows like Fire Country and Ghosts will also follow NCIS: Origins to Pluto TV next month. The original NCIS series is also available to stream on Paramount+.
NCIS: Origins Season 2 will premiere on October 14.
