CBS has announced that Austin Stowell, known for his role in Peacock's 'A Friend of the Family,' will portray the younger version of Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the upcoming NCIS prequel titled 'Origins.' Set in 1991, the show will delve into the early days of Gibbs' career in the Navy's criminal investigations branch.
The timeline of 'Origins,' taking place 12 years before the inception of NCIS, aligns with the age of Mark Harmon, who originally played Gibbs in the NCIS predecessor JAG in 2003 when he was 51 years old.
'NCIS: Origins' has been slated to be part of CBS' 2024-25 schedule after receiving a straight-to-series order in early January. The NCIS franchise, produced by CBS Studios, currently includes the main series in its 21st season, the 3-year-old spinoff 'NCIS: Hawai'i,' 'NCIS: Sydney' as the first international edition, and an upcoming Paramount+ spinoff featuring the return of former regulars Cote de Pablo and Michael Weatherly.
Mark Harmon, who departed NCIS in the 19th season, will be an executive producer of 'Origins' and will also serve as the narrator. His son, who previously portrayed a young Gibbs in flashbacks on NCIS, is also an executive producer of the show.
In 'Origins,' viewers will witness Gibbs embarking on his career as a new special agent at the nascent NCIS Camp Pendleton office. He joins a team led by NCIS legend Mike Franks, portrayed by Muse Watson in the original series. The premiere episode is being written by NCIS veterans David J. North and Gina Lucita Monreal, who will also act as co-showrunners for the prequel. Mark and Sean Harmon are executive producers of the show.
Austin Stowell's acting credits include appearances in Hulu's 'Catch-22,' the Showtime-turned-Starz miniseries 'Three Women,' and feature films such as 'Bridge of Spies' and 'Battle of the Sexes.' Stowell previously guest-starred in a 2010 episode of 'NCIS: Los Angeles.' He is represented by Gersh and Yorn Levine.
