Mark Harmon Returns to Acting in Freaky Friday 2, Three Years After Stepping Away from NCIS
Mark Harmon is back in action, three years after leaving NCIS, as he’s spotted on the set of Freaky Friday 2. After nearly two decades spearheading the police procedural, Harmon officially ended his stint on the small screen with an appropriate send-off in NCIS season 19 for Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Subsequently, Harmon revealed that he decided to walk away from the show, which made him a household name, as he wanted to take a break from the show’s grueling production schedule. A few years later, however, he is back on set for his next film.
Courtesy of Daily Mail UK, new images from the set of Freaky Friday 2 have emerged. The much-anticipated Disney sequel has previously released promotional images of Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis ahead of the film’s production. While the initial report confirming that the movie is happening revealed that Harmon will be back as Ryan, this is the first time that he has been spotted working on the project. In the images, the former NCIS actor is seen shooting a scene with Lohan and Curtis, walking down a busy street.
Harmon will also narrate the events of NCIS: Origins, but although there’s interest in seeing him again, it’s unclear if he will have a physical appearance in it. Per NCIS season 21, Gibbs remains retired in Naktok Bay, Alaska. Despite having multiple opportunities to bring him back, including Ducky’s tribute and the 1000th episode, CBS has opted not to get him involved again. Instead, the show has been focused on further establishing Alden Parker’s role as the Major Case Response Team’s (MCRT) new leader. The door remains open for Harmon’s NCIS return; however, the producers of the show have made it clear that they want to ensure they have the right narrative for his much-anticipated comeback.
Harmon is still tied to the NCIS franchise, despite his retirement from the main show three years ago. He and his son, Sean Harmon, will produce the latest spinoff from the TV universe, NCIS: Origins. The show will be a prequel that tackles Gibbs’ earliest years in the agency as part of Mike Franks’ ragtag team at Camp Pendleton. Harmon will also narrate the ’90s-set events of NCIS: Origins, but although there’s interest in seeing him again, it’s unclear if he will have a physical appearance in it.
It’s worth noting, however, that Harmon’s return to acting in Freaky Friday 2 doesn’t nullify his original reasoning for leaving NCIS. Filming for the police procedural, especially since he was its lead actor, was grueling. Meanwhile, being part of the upcoming Disney movie as a supporting character is likely not going to be as demanding. Perhaps his return to acting will help inspire him to revisit his most famous role.
The confirmed Freaky Friday 2 was in development for quite a while. Harmon himself claimed in 2023 that he believed the sequel was going to happen. As it turned out, the project was already secretly in the works at Disney. Curtis herself spearheaded the endeavor, even writing to the House of Mouse about doing a follow-up to Mark Waters’ cult favorite from 2003. When the movie was finally announced, the pertinent details about it were already properly ironed out, including the majority of the core cast and its premise.
Freaky Friday 2 was rumored to be a Disney+ exclusive, but it will instead be released theatrically in 2025.
Per the official Freaky Friday 2 synopsis, the sequel will use the same body-swap trick as the core of its story. This time, however, it will have a “multigenerational twist.” Set in modern times, the sequel will see Curtis’ Tess and Lohan’s Anna living their lives when they are once again subjected to the same magical phenomenon that they experienced two decades ago. While there’s no word on how Harmon’s Ryan fits into the storyline, the Freaky Friday 2 set images confirm that he and Tess are still going strong as a couple.
Gibbs’ old role as MCRT’s leader made a return to NCIS impossible. However, after he officially retired in season 19, there was no need for him to be at the forefront of the team in Navy Yard. Director Leon Vance can consult him from time to time when dealing with particularly tricky cases. Harmon can also have occasional cameos in the main NCIS show. Assuming that being on Freaky Friday 2 rejuvenated his love of acting, it might not be difficult for the actor to be convinced to be involved again.
