Mark Harmon, best known for his role as Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS, is stepping behind the scenes to serve as executive producer and narrator for a brand-new spin-off prequel, NCIS: Origins. This series takes fans back to Gibbs’ early days, with actor Austin Stowell taking on the challenging role of a young Gibbs.
NCIS: Origins, set in 1991, dives into Gibbs’ life before he became the iconic leader on NCIS. Stowell, who portrays the rookie agent, describes joining the show as a dream come true. “After years of auditioning, to suddenly be handed a badge with your name on it—it’s surreal,” he said.
The series brings viewers to locations like Camp Pendleton and Daley’s Tavern, a bar just off-base, and explores the raw, emotional journey that shapes Gibbs’ life. This chapter introduces a vulnerable side to Gibbs, as he grapples with grief after losing his wife and child. Harmon saw the prequel as an opportunity to explore this depth: “This is a chance to really dig into the core of who Gibbs is,” he shared.
Stowell has leaned into his own experiences to bring authenticity to the role, drawing on the pain of losing his father to suicide four years ago. “Loss is something we all face, and for Gibbs, this is a wound that has cut to his core,” Stowell reflected.
Harmon has been a guiding force on set, providing advice and insight to Stowell and the cast, while still allowing the young team to make the show their own. “Mark has been available from day one,” Stowell noted. “He’s given us so much support.”
For Harmon, NCIS: Origins is about passing the torch. “I’m here to support and share what I can, but this new chapter belongs to them,” Harmon said. With this blend of fresh talent and timeless storytelling, NCIS: Origins is set to reveal Gibbs’ past in ways fans have never seen.
