Mark Harmon Brings Gibbs Back to Life in NCIS: Origins: A Personal Passion Project
Mark Harmon may have stepped away from NCIS in 2021, but he’s never really left the role of Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs behind. After 18 years of bringing Gibbs to life, Harmon exited the show as a series regular, yet he remained actively involved in the franchise. His dedication to NCIS was clear when his son approached him with an idea for a prequel, sparking a collaborative journey that led the duo to series showrunners David J. North and Gina Lucita Monreal to get the project off the ground.
Harmon is thrilled about the direction of NCIS: Origins, set to premiere October 14. “Is there a story to tell? Definitely. Is it going to be different than people know? Absolutely,” he said of the prequel, which begins at Camp Pendleton in 1991, shortly after the tragic murder of Gibbs’ wife and daughter. Austin Stowell will portray a young Gibbs, stepping into a role previously played by Harmon’s son, Sean Harmon, on NCIS. Although Sean won’t reprise the role this time, he’s deeply involved as an executive producer on the new series.
“He’s an actor, writer, producer—a surfer, he does a lot of things,” Harmon says of Sean. “He made a choice about what he wants to do in life, and he likes executive producing.”
Harmon himself remains deeply committed to NCIS: Origins, making himself available on set to guide the cast as they navigate the legacy of Gibbs. He’ll even make a special appearance in the premiere episode, though details about his cameo are being kept tightly under wraps to surprise fans. “That was intended to be a surprise,” Harmon shared, with North revealing the cameo during a recent panel.
Harmon also lends his voice to the series’ narration, which he feels connects him to the project in a meaningful way. “Gina and David asked me to do the voiceover, and that was always part of my understanding,” Harmon said. The question of how Gibbs’ presence will be represented, whether he’ll be writing a memoir or in another reflective role, is something Harmon and the team are carefully crafting.
For Harmon, NCIS: Origins is a true labor of love. “There are going to be changes. That’s life, right?” he says, acknowledging the challenges the show will face. “Everybody’s working hard, and everybody’s got a great attitude, and then this will be on the air, and it’s going to get judged. But our job is to do the work and keep the bar at a certain level.”
As NCIS: Origins debuts, Harmon’s passion for the franchise continues to shape its future, promising fans an exciting new chapter in the Gibbs legacy. Catch the premiere on CBS, Monday, October 14, at 9 p.m. ET.
