NCIS: Origins is the most recent CBS collection going by way of offscreen adjustments — with the prequel shedding a showrunner after two seasons.
Co-showrunner Gina Lucita Monreal is departing from the present on the finish of the present season, in line with TVLine and Deadline. David J. North will stay and can function sole showrunner any longer.
“Gina has been an essential beloved member of the ‘NCIS’ household for a few years,” CBS Leisure President Amy Reisenbach and CBS Studios President David Stapf mentioned in a joint assertion on Wednesday, January 28. “We’re extremely grateful to her for serving to launch and steer NCIS: Origins, and bringing these unimaginable characters and tales to life. We sit up for working along with her once more sooner or later on new tasks, and know the inventive basis she helped construct will proceed to thrive.”
Monreal launched her personal assertion concerning the shock exit. “It’s been the most important honor of my profession to put in writing NCIS: Origin’ alongside my unimaginable co-showrunner and good friend David North,” she wrote. “I wish to thank Amy Reisenbach, David Stapf, and everybody at CBS Community and Studio for his or her assist.”
She continued: “To have had this chance to work once more with the incomparable Mark Harmon, Sean Harmon, our writers, and one of the best forged and crew within the enterprise — how fortunate am I? I can’t wait to see what this extraordinary group cooks up for season 3.”
NCIS: Origins, which premiered in October 2024, follows a younger Gibbs — a task originated by Mark Harmon — years previous to the occasions of NCIS. The brand new collection picks up lower than a 12 months after Gibbs’ spouse and daughter have been killed. Throughout season 1, Gibbs began a brand new job as a particular agent on the NIS Camp Pendleton workplace whereas nonetheless coping with the aftermath of shedding his household.
Mariel Molino, Austin Stowell. Erik Voake/CBS
Harmon, 74, made his NCIS debut as Gibbs in 2003 and performed the lead position for 18 years. His remaining look aired in late 2021, and Harmon hasn’t returned to the flagship present since. He did, nonetheless, signal on to be the narrator for the prequel collection and has served as an government producer on the venture alongside his eldest son, Sean Harmon.
“It’s a frightening activity to recreate Gibbs and to return and attempt to inform this story whereas being respectful to the followers and to the story line of the unique present,” Stowell, 41, solely instructed Us Weekly in November 2024 earlier than Harmon filmed present-day scenes for season 2. “We wish to do our greatest job as actors, as artists, as writers and storytellers. Whereas there might be lots of strain, Mark Harmon makes us really feel so snug and he makes us really feel justified in our choices.”
The actor revealed that it didn’t take lengthy for Harmon to share his opinion about Stowell’s efficiency.
“He gave it to me instantly within the room,” Stowell quipped. “He was vocal about — possibly not what to do — however actually [he was] guiding me extra by way of posture and mindset, issues that I’ve discovered to inhabit all of the extra over time.”
Harmon, nonetheless, has “by no means given” Stowell any notes on his performing. “He leads by instance. He’s a man who I’ve discovered much more about being a human being than being Gibbs,” Stowell continued. “He’s been so welcoming — not simply to me and never simply to the remainder of the forged, however the entire crew. He’s actually such an exquisite chief for us as a result of he makes everyone really feel so snug.”
Earlier than NCIS: Origins returned for season 2 late final 12 months, Monreal and North teased their strategy to the prequel.
“That was actually our final purpose from the beginning was to make a present that the followers of the unique present liked and felt happy by. However [it is] additionally [a show] that new viewers can are available in from the start of NCIS: Origins,” Monreal defined solely to Us in April 2025. “Viewers can soar in and never be confused and actually get on board with our characters and their tales. We’ve all the time approached it from that perspective. I really feel like we’ve succeeded.”
She continued: “We’re actually eager on sticking to canon [events]. We’re strict about that. We wish to pay respect to the mothership. We each have written on the mothership and do love that present. However we additionally love branching out into our new characters and digging into their emotional lives.”
NCIS: Origins returns Tuesday, February 24, to CBS at 9 p.m. ET.
