After the NCIS franchise celebrated crossing 1,000 episodes, it continues to expand with two new series in development. One of these is the highly anticipated prequel, NCIS: Origins, which will explore the complex backstory of Mark Harmon’s iconic character, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, now portrayed by Austin Stowell. This prequel promises to delve into narratives that have already been established in the original NCIS series, but it’s reassuring to know that the show will reportedly avoid disrupting established canon.
The casting of Longmire star Robert Taylor as Gibbs’ father, Jackson, raised some questions. In the original NCIS series, it was revealed that Gibbs and his father were estranged for a significant period following the tragic deaths of Gibbs’ wife Shannon and daughter Kelly. NCIS: Origins is set shortly after these events, which means the rift between Gibbs and his father will still be relatively recent. Despite this, co-showrunner David North assured fans that they are committed to maintaining continuity. He told TVLine, “We did solve it. We’re very aware of the canon and what’s been set up, and we’re working within that. But I’ll say this: Jackson is an important role, and we’ll see his influence on Gibbs.”
Maintaining continuity and respecting established canon is always a challenge with spinoffs, whether they are prequels, sequels, revivals, or reboots. While some series, like Young Sheldon or The Winchesters, have adjusted established storylines or characters, NCIS: Origins is making a concerted effort to adhere closely to the established narrative from NCIS. This careful approach aims to honor the original series while exploring new dimensions of Gibbs’ backstory.
