A major mentor’s return is giving fans renewed hope for the NCIS franchise. The upcoming spinoff, NCIS: Origins, is set to reintroduce the beloved character Leroy Jethro Gibbs, following his departure in season 19 of the original show. Despite facing criticism even before its release, a recent revelation from one of the show’s key actors is sparking excitement among skeptical fans.
NCIS: Origins will transport viewers back to the 1990s, offering an in-depth look at Gibbs’ personal and professional life. Starring Austin Stowell as young Gibbs, the series will explore his background, including his family and friends, some of whom he met while working at NCIS.
One of Gibbs’ most important colleagues and friends, Mike Franks, will return in the spinoff. According to lead actor Kyle Schmid, who plays Franks, this character’s appearance is crucial for understanding Gibbs’ future work at NCIS. Franks, initially an NCIS Supervisory Special Agent and leader of the MCRT, was the first to recognize Gibbs’ potential and helped him secure a position as an NCIS Special Agent.
Schmid explains that Franks is now focused on building a team of promising agents rather than advancing his own career. He emphasizes the spinoff’s focus on Gibbs and Franks’ relationship, highlighting Franks’ significant influence on Gibbs: “He is still at a point where he gets to mentor Gibbs. I think we’ll get to see why Gibbs was who the world fell in love with in the original NCIS and how he came to be that way. And Mike Franks is a big part of that.”
While NCIS: Origins does not have an official release date yet, it is set to premiere on CBS this fall.
