The fourth entry in the NCIS franchise, NCIS: Hawai’i, has become the shortest-lived series in the franchise’s history, concluding after just three seasons. The cancellation of the show in May 2024 surprised many fans, especially given the series’ solid performance and its recent crossover events with other NCIS shows.
CBS executives announced in late April 2024, just a month before the season finale, that NCIS: Hawai’i would not be renewed for a fourth season. The decision was influenced by several factors. High production costs, a result of filming on location in Hawai’i, played a significant role. The expense of shooting in a remote and picturesque location is notably higher compared to more common filming sites on the mainland United States. Additionally, the show’s viewership numbers in its third season did not meet expectations, and CBS sought to refresh its programming lineup with new content.
The cancellation came shortly after the network revealed the development of a new NCIS prequel series, NCIS: Origins, which may have also contributed to the decision to end NCIS: Hawai’i. Despite maintaining a solid viewership of over seven million viewers per season, the show faced an uphill battle in a competitive network landscape.
Throughout its run, NCIS: Hawai’i was known for its engaging storylines and crossovers with NCIS and NCIS: Los Angeles. However, unlike other CBS shows such as S.W.A.T., which have seen reversals of cancellation decisions or moves to different platforms, there are currently no plans to revive NCIS: Hawai’i or shift it to another network. The series will conclude with its third season, marking the end of its run in the NCIS franchise.
