As fans continue to reel from the explosive Season 1 finale of NCIS: Origins, stars Mariel Molino and Austin Stowell are opening up about their hopes for Season 2, that cliffhanger ending, and the electric dynamic between their characters — Cecilia “Lala” Dominguez and a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
Appearing together at the Monte-Carlo TV Festival, the duo gave Deadline a candid look into their experience filming the NCIS prequel and what might lie ahead.
“I Hope Lala Is Alive… And I Hope I Have a Job”
Mariel Molino didn’t hold back when asked about what she wants from Season 2 following Lala’s fate being left uncertain. “I hope Lala is alive… and I hope I have a job,” she joked, echoing the very real concerns of fans who’ve grown attached to her sharp, fearless performance opposite Stowell’s brooding young Gibbs.
Reflecting on their undeniable chemistry — especially a fan-favorite pool scene from Season 1 — Molino added, “If she is [alive], I hope that finally something happens with Lala and Gibbs. You know what I mean, come on — either kiss me or don’t.”
Austin Stowell on Channeling Gibbs: “I Was Scared for So Many Reasons”
Stowell, taking on the daunting task of portraying the younger version of the iconic character made famous by Mark Harmon, admitted the pressure has been real — but welcome.
“I was scared for so many reasons,” he shared. “It was the first time doing a network TV show, first time playing a character that had already been portrayed before me, first time being number one on a call sheet.”
Still, he embraces the challenge. “I like pressure… I want the ball in my hands at the bottom of the ninth. 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.”
A Scene That Still Hurts: The Power of Lala & Gibbs
One moment from Season 1 still lingers for Stowell — a heated confrontation scene where Lala unleashes her fury on Gibbs and Franks. “I said, ‘Will you please just get mad at me?’” he recalled. “For her to yell at me in that way, it was crushing. When I watch that scene, it takes me back to that moment — it just hurts.”
He’s not method, but Stowell admitted that the emotions from that performance stayed with him. “That’s one that will stay with me.”
Casting a Future Lala: Mariel Has the Perfect Pick
With speculation growing about whether NCIS: Origins could eventually fast-forward to future timelines, Molino was asked who she’d like to see play an older version of Lala. Without hesitation, she named Italian screen legend Monica Bellucci.
“She has that presence,” Molino said. “I’m part Italian — it just feels right.”
What’s Next for ‘NCIS: Origins’?
As CBS gears up for a second season, questions abound: Is Lala still alive? Will Gibbs finally let his guard down? And can this origin story do justice to the legacy of one of TV’s most legendary characters?
One thing is certain: fans are all in on this compelling new chapter of the NCIS universe — and so are its stars.
