### NCIS Prequel: Mark Harmon Returns with Another Fan-Favorite Character!
**Spoilers ahead for *NCIS* fans!**
The highly-anticipated prequel, *NCIS: Origins*, featuring Mark Harmon’s iconic character Leroy Jethro Gibbs, is set to debut in the 2024/25 TV season with a straight-to-series order from CBS. This new series will explore Gibbs’s early days as a special agent.
According to TVLine, the prequel will also bring back another beloved character: Vera Strickland, played by Roma Maffia. Strickland, who first appeared in season 11 of the original *NCIS*, was the partner of the late Mike Franks, and a younger version of Franks will also appear in the prequel.
Set in 1991, *NCIS: Origins* will follow Gibbs at the NCIS Camp Pendleton office, working under NCIS legend Mike Franks. Mark Harmon, who left the franchise in 2021, will narrate and executive produce the series alongside his son Sean Harmon. Sean, who previously portrayed young Gibbs, expressed excitement about exploring Gibbs’s early years and working with his father again.
Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment, shared her enthusiasm for expanding the *NCIS* universe, promising viewers a deeper look into Gibbs’s backstory and the reintroduction of fan-favorite characters.
While there’s no release date yet for *NCIS: Origins*, the original *NCIS* series continues to air on CBS in the US, with seasons 1-20 available for streaming on Disney+ in the UK.
