Lori Petty and Bobby Moynihan Join Expanding Cast of NCIS: Origins
The cast of NCIS: Origins continues to grow with the exciting addition of Lori Petty and Bobby Moynihan. The prequel series, set to premiere on October 14 on CBS, will feature Petty as an assistant medical examiner and Moynihan as the lead forensic analyst. The casting news was revealed during the show’s TCA panel, which included a surprise appearance by former NCIS star Mark Harmon, who serves as executive producer and narrator for the series.
Sean Harmon, Mark Harmon’s son and a familiar face to NCIS fans, also joined the panel. Known for playing a younger Jethro Gibbs in the original series, Sean is stepping behind the camera this time as an executive producer for the prequel. Despite his past portrayal of young Gibbs, he won’t be reprising the role. “It’s been an honor to be part of this world, but I was excited to take on the executive producer role instead,” Sean shared.
NCIS: Origins takes audiences back to 1991, long before the events of NCIS, to explore Gibbs’s early days as a special agent at NCIS Camp Pendleton. The series introduces a younger, more vulnerable Gibbs, played by Austin Stowell, who is grappling with the devastating loss of his wife and child. This version of Gibbs is a stark contrast to the hardened leader fans have come to know.
Although Mark Harmon isn’t involved in the daily production, he had a hand in casting Stowell for the role. “When Austin came in, Gina swooned,” Harmon joked at the panel. Stowell, who chose not to consult Harmon before his audition, emphasized that his portrayal of Gibbs will show a different side of the character: “This Gibbs is broken and searching for his identity.” Harmon offered Stowell a simple yet powerful piece of advice: “Trust yourself.”
