More than 20 years after first portraying Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Mark Harmon is stepping back into the world of NCIS, but in a new role. Following his departure from the show in 2021 during Season 19, Harmon is now serving as the narrator and executive producer for the upcoming spin-off, NCIS: Origins, set to premiere on October 14 on CBS.
“I’m just pleased to be part of it,” Harmon said at the show’s TCA panel. “I’m a distant part of it really because I’m not there to make any big moves. I’m here to support and help in any way I can. If they need me, great. If not, that’s okay too. So far, they’re doing just fine.”
Harmon is executive producing alongside his son, Sean Harmon, who previously played a younger version of Gibbs and came up with the spin-off idea. In the new series, Austin Stowell will portray Gibbs.
“I’m happy to be part of this team,” Harmon noted. “I’m fine taking a step back to let this cast do their work. We spent a lot of time finding this group, and I love what I’ve seen so far.”
Although he reduced his on-screen presence, Harmon remains an executive producer and commended CBS for supporting the show through its ups and downs. Reflecting on the early days, he recalled, “At that time, I was traveling and doing movies, trying to stay home more. I didn’t initially think about doing a TV series, but I loved the script and the character of Leroy Jethro Gibbs.”
He added, “The first day of filming was 22 hours, which wasn’t exactly what I had expected. Those long days were common in the first four years. People think the show took off right away, but it didn’t. I’m grateful to CBS for giving us the chance to grow, especially since we were in third place and didn’t have much else to offer. Other networks might not have given us that opportunity.”
