The Legacy That Needed Protecting
For two decades, one name has been synonymous with NCIS: Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Played by the legendary Mark Harmon, Gibbs was more than just the gruff, rules-driven leader of the Major Case Response Team—he was the beating heart of a franchise that grew into one of television’s biggest global phenomena.
So, when CBS greenlit NCIS: Origins, a prequel diving into Gibbs’ early life before his NCIS days, the stakes could not have been higher. The challenge? Finding someone who could honor Harmon’s legacy while breathing new life into a younger, rougher version of the character.
Enter Austin Stowell.
And now, with the co-showrunner finally breaking down why Stowell was chosen, fans have even more reason to be excited for Season 2.
Why Casting Young Gibbs Was the Riskiest Move of All
Recasting an icon is the ultimate gamble. Gibbs wasn’t just any role—he was a cultural touchstone. His steely stare, dry wit, and strict adherence to his personal “rules” became part of the NCIS DNA.
“Getting Gibbs wrong,” the co-showrunner admitted, “would’ve meant the entire show collapsing before it even started.”
That’s why the creative team knew they couldn’t hire a simple look-alike. They needed someone who could live inside Gibbs’ skin during his formative years—when mistakes were still being made, lessons still being learned, and scars (emotional and physical) still being formed.
Austin Stowell: The Raw, Unpolished Gibbs Fans Didn’t Know They Needed
Stowell, whose resume includes intense, emotionally demanding roles, brought something no one else could: a sense of rawness.
“He wasn’t playing Harmon,” the co-showrunner explained. “He was playing Gibbs before Harmon’s Gibbs existed. That takes both humility and guts.”
Fans tuning into Season 1 quickly noticed the difference. Stowell didn’t lean on imitation. Instead, he carried himself with the quiet intensity that foreshadowed who Gibbs would one day become. His performance balanced grit with vulnerability—two qualities Harmon also mastered but from a more seasoned, weathered perspective.
The Harmon Stamp of Approval
Perhaps the most comforting piece for longtime fans is knowing that Mark Harmon himself signed off on Stowell.
Though he stepped away from the role in 2021, Harmon remains deeply involved as an executive producer on NCIS: Origins. His fingerprints are all over the project—helping shape storylines, defining the essence of young Gibbs, and, yes, guiding the casting process.
If Harmon believed Stowell was right for the job, that endorsement alone speaks volumes.
Season 1: The Test, Season 2: The Transformation
When Origins premiered, fan reactions were cautious at best. Could anyone truly carry the Gibbs mantle? But by the season finale, many skeptics had turned into believers.
Now, with Season 2 on the horizon, expectations are shifting. Gibbs is no longer just a Marine with a fractured past—he’s stepping closer toward the man who will one day command NCIS.
The co-showrunner teased that Season 2 will “lean harder into the tension between who Gibbs is and who Gibbs will become.” Translation? Expect more moral dilemmas, more nods to NCIS lore, and perhaps even the seeds of Gibbs’ infamous rules beginning to sprout.
Why Stowell’s Gibbs Isn’t Just a Copy of Harmon’s
The brilliance of Stowell’s performance is in the differences.
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Harmon’s Gibbs was already hardened, carrying his grief like armor.
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Stowell’s Gibbs is still vulnerable, still bleeding from emotional wounds in real time.
It’s like looking at a portrait in progress—brushstrokes rough, colors bleeding, the final image not yet clear. Both versions matter because one leads directly to the other.
Chemistry That Makes the Story Work
Of course, Gibbs doesn’t exist in isolation. Harmon’s magic came partly from his chemistry with the NCIS team—DiNozzo, Abby, Ducky, McGee, and Ziva.
Stowell, too, had to click with his ensemble in Origins. Thankfully, his interactions with the new cast have given Gibbs’ early years the texture and authenticity fans craved. Every ally, every adversary, and every heartbreak in Origins feels like another chisel strike shaping the man Gibbs would become.
Will Harmon Ever Return Onscreen?
The question fans can’t stop asking: Could Mark Harmon himself pop up in Origins—perhaps in a flash-forward or dream sequence?
While nothing is confirmed, the co-showrunner didn’t rule it out. And if such a cameo were to happen, it would represent the ultimate passing of the torch, a symbolic meeting between the legend and his successor.
Why Season 2 Is the Make-or-Break Moment
Season 1 proved that Stowell belonged in the role. Season 2 will determine if he can own it.
For fans still holding back, this is the year Stowell gets to bridge the gap between fresh-faced Marine and the unshakeable NCIS leader we all know. If he succeeds, Origins won’t just be a clever prequel—it’ll be essential NCIS storytelling.
Conclusion: A Revelation, Not a Replacement
Austin Stowell isn’t replacing Mark Harmon. He’s expanding Gibbs’ story. He’s showing us the raw, unrefined version of a man destined to become an icon.
The co-showrunner said it best: “Stowell wasn’t just the right choice—he was the only choice.”
For longtime NCIS fans, Season 2 of Origins promises not just nostalgia, but discovery. And if you weren’t already excited, now might be the time to start.
