The cast of NCIS: Origins is expanding with the addition of Lori Petty and Bobby Moynihan. The prequel series, set to debut on October 14 on CBS, will feature Petty as an assistant medical examiner and Moynihan as the lead forensic analyst. The announcement was made at the show’s TCA panel, where former NCIS star Mark Harmon, who serves as executive producer and narrator, joined the discussion.
Sean Harmon, Mark Harmon’s son and a recurring actor on NCIS, also participated in the panel. Sean, who had a role as a younger Jethro Gibbs in the original series, is an executive producer for the prequel but is not playing the younger version of his father’s character. He explained, “It’s been an honor to step into this world, but I was excited to take on the executive producer role instead.”
NCIS: Origins takes viewers back to 1991, years before the events of NCIS. The series explores Gibbs’s early days as a special agent at NCIS Camp Pendleton, where he works with a gritty team led by the legendary Mike Franks. This version of Gibbs, played by Austin Stowell, is portrayed as dealing with the profound loss of his wife and child, showing a more vulnerable side compared to the seasoned leader seen in the original series.
Harmon noted that while he is not actively involved in the day-to-day production, he played a role in selecting Stowell for the part. “When Austin came in, Gina swooned,” Harmon joked. Stowell, who did not consult with Harmon before his audition, emphasized that this portrayal of Gibbs is different from the one audiences are familiar with: “This Gibbs is broken and searching for his identity,” he said. Harmon’s advice to Stowell was simple but impactful: “Trust yourself.”
