When *NCIS: Los Angeles* was canceled, LL Cool J joined *NCIS: Hawai’i* as his character Sam Hanna. How did this happen, and would Sam Hanna have been part of Season 4 if the CBS series hadn’t been canceled?
The show’s co-showrunners, Jan Nash, Christopher Silver, and Matt Bosack, recently spoke with TVLine about the series’ cancellation and shared surprising details. They revealed that the idea of bringing Sam Hanna onto the show was suggested by the studio/network after *NCIS: Los Angeles* ended. They were enthusiastic about the idea because of the character’s appeal and LL Cool J’s positive presence.
The chemistry between LL Cool J and lead actress Vanessa Lachey was particularly compelling, leading the showrunners to hope he would remain on the show for many seasons. Initially cast as a recurring character, LL Cool J appeared in every episode of the shortened third season, indicating he had become a regular part of the cast.
The showrunners intended to keep Sam Hanna in the storyline for future seasons. However, with the cancellation of *NCIS: Hawai’i*, fans will miss out on these planned storylines.
As for LL Cool J, he is returning to his music career and will be performing live on the Today Plaza as part of the Citi Concert Series on Friday, September 6. There is no word on whether he might return to the NCIS franchise in the future.
*NCIS: Hawai’i* fans, does knowing that Sam Hanna was planned to be a long-term character make the show’s cancellation even more disappointing?
