When Kyle Schmid appeared at this summer’s Television Critics Association press tour for the NCIS: Origins panel, he sported a mustache that would make Muse Watson proud. Schmid will be portraying a younger version of Mike Franks, the character Watson played in nearly 20 episodes of the original NCIS over 12 years.
Schmid, known for his roles in SIX and Big Sky, spoke to TVLine about his approach to becoming Mike Franks. He noted that joining the NCIS fandom is unlike anything he’s experienced, but staying true to the character’s specifics allows him the creative freedom he loves. For Schmid, one of those specifics is Franks’ iconic mustache, which he believes not only defines the character but also fits the early ’90s setting.
However, Schmid’s transformation didn’t stop there. He persuaded the producers to let him wear dark brown contacts to match Muse Watson’s eye color. Schmid explained that seeing himself as someone entirely different when he looks in the mirror helps him fully embody the role. He even adopted a voice more reminiscent of Watson’s portrayal, staying in character from morning until the end of the workday.
These efforts, from the mustache to the voice, will help longtime NCIS fans recognize and connect with this younger version of Mike Franks. The story begins with Gibbs joining the NIS Camp Pendleton office in 1991, shortly after his military service in Operation Desert Storm and the tragic loss of his wife Shannon and daughter Kelly.
Schmid shared that Mike Franks sees something broken in Gibbs, much like he does in himself. Franks recognizes the chance to help someone who’s been through similar hardships and gives Gibbs a second chance by bringing him into the NIS.
Co-showrunner David North summed up the early Franks/Gibbs dynamic by saying, “They’re boss and probie!” He added that seeing Gibbs in situations that fans couldn’t imagine Mark Harmon’s version in has been a joy to write.
NCIS: Origins premieres Monday, Oct. 14, at 9/8c with a double-episode debut, before moving to its regular 10 pm time slot the following week.
