NCIS Star Mark Harmon Reveals Insights on NCIS: Origins Audition Process
Mark Harmon, known for his iconic role as Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS, shared insights into the audition process for the prequel series, NCIS: Origins. Though Harmon stepped down from his role in 2021, a younger version of Gibbs will be portrayed by Austin Stowell (The Hating Game) in the new series.
As an executive producer on NCIS: Origins, Harmon recalled attending Stowell’s first audition. Speaking at the Television Critics Association, he mentioned fellow executive producer Gina Lucita Monreal’s reaction to Stowell’s performance.
“I joked about Gina swooning, but the truth is she did. She may deny it, but she did,” Harmon told USA TODAY. “And when [Stowell] walked out of the room, she said, ‘Now that guy is a star!'”
This “swooning” was humorously debated by executive producer David North, who claimed he was the one mesmerized by Stowell. “Let’s just be clear,” Stowell concluded. “Somebody swooned.”
NCIS: Origins is set 12 years before NCIS and follows a young Gibbs as a fresh-faced special agent at the NCIS Camp Pendleton office. Besides executive producing, Harmon will narrate the series.
“I’m fine with the step-back role and letting the new cast do the work,” Harmon explained. “I’m pleased to be part of it. I’m a distant part. I’m just here to support.”
Harmon remains uncertain about returning to the original NCIS series. “I don’t know. It’s really about feeling you’ve fulfilled a role,” he said. “I’ve always let the writers do what they want to do.”
NCIS: Origins will be released this autumn. NCIS airs on CBS in the US, and Seasons 1-20 are streaming on Disney+ in the UK.
