Despite the intense competition for the role, Mark Harmon recognized Austin Stowell as the perfect young Leroy Jethro Gibbs the moment he walked into the audition room for the prequel series NCIS: Origins. Harmon recounted to PEOPLE that he felt a palpable energy in the room, saying, “I felt the room jump a little, even before he said anything.” Reflecting on the casting process, Harmon noted the “heavy competition” but highlighted that few candidates garnered the same attention as Stowell did. In fact, after Stowell’s audition, someone remarked, “I’ll just say it, that’s a movie star.”
Harmon portrayed Gibbs, a former Marine Corps sniper turned special agent and team commander for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, for 19 seasons on the flagship series. NCIS has spawned multiple spinoffs over the years, including NCIS: New Orleans, which Harmon co-produces, as well as NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: Sydney, and the recently canceled NCIS: Hawaii.
In January, a spinoff focusing on Gibbs’ early days at NCIS was announced, with Harmon involved as a co-producer. After considerable speculation regarding who would play the younger version of Gibbs, Stowell was officially cast in March.
Discussing Stowell’s casting, Harmon remarked on the serendipitous nature of the selection process, stating, “I can say that about any role that was cast in this show because they all came in one after another. We got everybody we wanted.” Alongside the Gibbs character, NCIS: Origins will also feature Mike Franks, Gibbs’ mentor, played by Muse Watson in the original series, while Kyle Schmid steps in as the younger version.
David J. North, an executive producer and writer for NCIS: Origins, praised Stowell, noting, “We just knew when Austin came in that he was Gibbs… His talent is limitless, and his dedication to the role, studying Mark and the show, shows he has a similar leadership quality that Mark brought on set.”
Stowell expressed his commitment to the role, telling North and co-writer Gina Lucita Monreal, “You always have all of me. I just want to give everything to this. I know what it means to the fans. I know what Gibbs represents to a lot of people out there, and I don’t want to let them down.”
As an added element of continuity, Harmon will make occasional appearances as the older Gibbs in NCIS: Origins, providing narration that connects his past experiences to his role within NCIS.
NCIS: Origins premiered on Monday, October 14, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS and is available for streaming on Paramount+.
