The NCIS universe is growing again — and now we finally know who will step into the boots of a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
CBS has announced that Austin Stowell will play the early-career version of Mark Harmon’s iconic character in the upcoming prequel series NCIS: Origins. The show, narrated by Harmon himself, is set in 1991 and follows Gibbs as he begins his journey as a rookie special agent at the NIS Camp Pendleton office under the leadership of the legendary Mike Franks.
Stowell’s previous credits include Catch-22, Whiplash, Battle of the Sexes, and the Dolphin Tale films — making him a familiar face to fans of both film and TV.
NCIS: Origins comes from executive producers Mark Harmon and his son Sean Harmon, who portrayed young Gibbs in flashbacks on the flagship series, along with showrunners David J. North and Gina Lucita Monreal. The series is set to debut during CBS’s 2024–25 season.
Mark Harmon played Gibbs for 18 seasons beginning in 2003, with his final episode airing in 2021. Gibbs’ story ended in Alaska, where he told McGee he had finally found a rare “sense of peace.”
The prequel news arrives just days after Paramount+ confirmed a separate 10-episode NCIS spinoff reuniting fan-favorite duo Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David.
