Fans were buzzing with excitement for a sneak peek at the highly anticipated prequel, NCIS: Origins, but the initial reception was far from positive.
Set in the 90s, NCIS: Origins follows Austin Stowell as a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon), offering a nostalgic look at the early days of the investigative agency, then known as NIS. While CBS audiences can expect to meet new characters and revisit old favorites, the show’s debut has been overshadowed by fan outrage over the recent cancellation of NCIS: Hawaii.
After images from Origins were shared on the NCISVerse’s official Instagram, fans expressed their disappointment, calling for the prequel to be axed before it even airs. One furious fan wrote, “Well, you’ve paged this angry NCIS: Hawaii fan,” slamming the network’s focus on reboots over diversity. Another echoed the sentiment, saying, “Please cancel NCIS: Origins and bring back NCIS: Hawaii. It’s what the fans want.”
Despite the backlash, some fans remain excited about this new chapter in the NCIS universe. One supporter commented, “It’s time to move on now. Hawaii isn’t coming back, and that’s just how network TV works.” Another enthusiast added, “Literally the only prequel I’ll ever willingly watch!”
In addition to Origins, CBS is bringing back fan favorites Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) and Ziva David (Cote de Pablo) this season. Meanwhile, a new Sydney-based spin-off is in the works for Paramount+, proving that the NCIS franchise is still going strong despite the controversy.
NCIS: Origins premieres Monday, October 14 on CBS, and NCIS is available to stream on Disney+.
