Although Mark Harmon’s Leroy Jethro Gibbs was played by Harmon’s son Sean for a handful of NCIS flashbacks over the years, Austin Stowell was selected last year to take over as the younger version of the character for NCIS: Origins. The prequel series returns for Season 2 this October on the 2025 TV schedule, and there’s quite a bit that early 1990s Gibbs will have to deal with following the shocking Season 1 finale. Ahead of that premiere, Origins co-showrunner Gina Lucita Monreal explained why Stowell was a worthy successor for Harmon in the CBS procedural franchise, and it’s making me more excited for Season 2.
Monreal, who shares showrunning duties on NCIS: Origins with David J. North, discussed the thought that went into casting the young Leroy Jethro Gibbs while speaking with TVLine. When asked what she felt was the “most Gibbs” or “most Mark Harmon” about Austin Stowell, she answered:
