NCIS: Origins, the Gibbs-focused prequel, and NCIS season 22 have a release date on CBS. More than two years after Mark Harmon departed from his lead role in the original NCIS show, it was recently announced in January that Harmon would return to the long-running procedural to narrate a prequel spinoff focused on the younger years of his character, Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Harmon would also executive produce the project, which has filled up its supporting cast and revealed its premise on the way to confirming a release date.

CBS has revealed the details of its upcoming Fall TV schedule, with Deadline revealing that NCIS: Origins will premiere on Tuesday, October 14, at 10 PM ET. It will be joined on the schedule by NCIS season 22, at 9 PM ET.

NCIS: Origins Follows Gibbs In The Early 1990s

He’ll Be Joined By Another Familiar Character

The prequel will unfold in 1991, centering on Gibbs just as he’s starting his career as a Special Agent at the NCIS Camp Pendleton office. According to summaries of the upcoming series, Gibbs builds up a gritty team that NCIS legend Mike Franks leads. In the prequel, Gibbs will be played by Bridge of Spies actor Austin Stowell. Franks, who had a recurring role in the original NCIS, with Muse Watson in the role, will now be portrayed by Being Human alum Kyle Schmid. But there will be one other notable familiar face confirmed as part of the prequel’s ensemble.

NCIS: Orgins will feature a younger version of Special Agent Vera Strickland. The character, originally played by Nip/Tuck‘s Roma Maffia, first appeared in the NCIS season 11 episode, “Under the Radar,” which aired in 2013. In that episode, which marks her only appearance in the CBS franchise, it’s revealed that Strickland was once Franks’ partner. She’ll now be played by The Blacklist alum Diany Rodriguez. Other additions to the main and recurring cast include Mariel Molino, Tyla Abercrumbie, Daniel Bellomy, Caleb Martin Foote, Robert Taylor, Patrick Fischler, and Julian Black Antelope.

Sean Harmon, Mark Harmon’s son, who helped develop the idea and pitch it, portrayed a young version of Gibbs in several NCIS episodes. He will now be focused on executive producing the CBS series with his father, David J. North, and Gina Lucita Monreal. The latter duo will also co-write the premiere episode and serve as showrunners. This promises a degree of continuity behind the scenes, given that North works on the main series alongside Steven D. Binder and will continue to do so. It’s a big step for the CBS franchise, with more character-focused spinoffs like NCIS: Origins and the upcoming Paramount+ drama NCIS: Tony & Ziva.

NCIS Season 22 Will Have To Address A Big Cliffhanger

Will Jessica Knight Return?

Going into the NCIS season 21 finale, there was some concern that either Jessica Knight (Katrina Law) or Alden Parker (Gary Cole) would die as the result of a dangerous mission. Both survive, though Parker ends up in the hospital. The real change in the team dynamic happens when Knight is offered the job of chief of training for the REACT team. It’s a job that would alter her relationship with Dr. Jimmy Palmer (Brian Dietzen), turning their courtship into a long-distance.

Even though there is a bit of conflict and uncertainty, Knight accepts the job by the end of the NCIS finale. It’s unclear whether this means that Law is exiting the CBS franchise. When asked about the possibility, showrunner Steven D. Binder indicated that Knight would not just disappear and promised that viewers would be pleased with where her story goes. The resolution is now confirmed to be just a few months away.

Source: Deadline