However, since the debut of NCIS: Origins — the very first prequel in the universe, recasting familiar characters has become more frequent. For starters, prominent players in the flagship, such as Gibbs and Franks, were recast with younger versions, as Mark Harmon and Muse Watson passed the baton to Austin Stowell and Kyle Schmid. As NCIS: Origins season 2 continues to tackle the history of NIS, it is also set to bring in another familiar character played by a different actor.
Per Deadline, NCIS: Origins is bringing in Shea Buckner to play Young Dwayne Pride in an undisclosed episode in season 2. The character was first played by Scott Bakula in the flagship before he eventually spearheaded the second spinoff in the franchise, NCIS: New Orleans, which ended back in 2021.
Buckner has appeared in several TV shows in the past few years, including The Rookie, The Blacklist, Equalizer, Animal Kingdom, FBI, and most recently, Only Murders in the Building. Despite initial skepticisms, NCIS: Origins has proven its worth, especially in season 2. Casting for the show is trickier, as it needs to adhere to what the flagship has established in terms of how these characters become in several more years. However, between the series regulars and the guest stars such as Young Lara Macy, there’s high expectations for Buckner’s Young Pride.
Per the additional details about Young Pride’s arrival in NCIS: Origins, it seems like his role in season 2 will be limited, but with the intention for him and the rest of Fed Five’s story to play out in season 3 — assuming that it gets picked up by CBS. Hopefully, the network can guarantee its future sooner rather than later, especially since Gibbs’ story is about to get more interesting
