NCIS: Origins season 2 has added a Law & Order: Special Victims Unit alum as a major character’s brother. The popular spinoff show, focused on the early career of fan-favorite NCIS character Leroy Jethro Gibbs, debuted on CBS in October 2024, with an 18-episode first season, and a premiere that gained more than seven million viewers.
In February 2025, NCIS: Origins season 2 was renewed, and the season is set to drop on CBS on October 14. While many story details are being kept tightly under wraps, it has been confirmed that a beloved former Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star is set to join the cast, and will play the brother of one of the show’s principal characters.
Per TVLine, Philip Winchester will join the cast of the show in the role of Mason Franks, the brother of Mike Franks. The character is described as having “a tumultuous relationship” with his brother, and the season will see them struggling to reconnect following Mason’s phone call at the end of season 1.
What This Means For NCIS: Origins Season 2
The addition of Mason to the cast of Origins is going to shine a light on Mike as a character and flesh out his backstory, mapping out his strained relationship with his brother. The pair trying to reconnect and put the past behind them is bound to be one of the core themes of season 2, and could dramatically shape Mike’s arc.
Questions remain over Mason’s return, and whether he may wind up dragging his brother into something unpleasant, or perhaps he’s seeking protection. CBS describes Mason as a “Texas-tough cowboy” who seeks his brother’s help saving the family ranch–but first the brothers will need to learn to reconnect in the upcoming season.
Our Take On Philip Winchester’s Casting
Winchester is an actor with experience and versatility, and feels like a good choice for someone who can bring emotional weight and vulnerability to Mason as a character. His interactions with Mike will be central to the growth of both characters in the coming episodes, and hopefully, he will get a long arc over the course of the season.
With roles in SVU and the One Chicago franchise, Winchester is no stranger to joining successful procedurals and will be a strong addition to the NCIS: Origins team. How long Mason is on the show remains to be seen, but if Winchester gives a strong performance, and shares good chemistry with his co-stars, the character could have a recurring part.
