Mark Harmon Weighs In On Casting For ‘NCIS: Origins’ Spinoff

Mark Harmon may have gone out NCIS back on the fourth episode of season 19, but his connection to all things NCIS still going strong. In line with that, he will publish the second of two books honoring the work of early NIS agents –Ghosts of Panama: A Strong Man Out of Control-on 19 November, with whom he was co-author Leon Carroll Jr., a technical advisor regarding NCIS and an earlier one NIS agent. And then he acts as executive producer and narrator of the prequel series NCIS: Origins, who has just received his all-season pickup.

“It’s been fun,” Harmon says Parade to take on the narrative, “because both (showrunners) Gina (Lucita Monreal) and David (J. North) has a long history with the show and I go way back with both of them. So I, as the narrative, always wanted to be a part of this, so it wasn’t a surprise. What’s the surprise, talking about Gibbs. Sometimes I don’t have a lot to do in an episode, and sometimes I have a boatload of things to do, and that’s putting words in the mouth of a character who traditionally said a lot with very little.”

When Origin was being developed, it was always planned that Harmon would do the narration, but what wasn’t expected was that he appeared on camera in the premiere episode to state the reason for the narration – and it was a happy reveal for fans to see that Gibbs is still fishing in Alaska today and working on a journal.

“They were trying to figure out how to introduce the narrative, and that’s why it gave birth to itself,” Harmon continues.

Related: NCIS: Origins Star Austin Stowell reveals the personal tragedy he used to get inside Gibbs’ head

The reveal of what Gibbs is up to in 2024 was one of many easter eggs that have been part of the launch of Origin. Others include Gibbs having his first sip of bourbon, the first time he stopped an elevator for a private conversation, the fact that he always carries a knife, and more information about how Gibbs’ rules came to be.

“The intention has always been to have fun with it, and there are so many,” Harmon agrees. “David and Gina enjoy opening them.”

Harmon adds that as much as he is a part of Origin, the role is now Austin Stowell‘s and Harmon are available and will be there whenever his help is needed, but this is now about another era of the Gibbs story in which he has little part. Except of course he helped throw it.

Related: Mark Harmon on why Austin Stowell is the perfect young Leroy Jethro Gibbs for NCIS: Origins

“We’re excited about the cast,” says Harmon. “Austin is a great kid and a great actor. I think back to all the weeks we spent in casting offices trying to put that cast together and we couldn’t be happier with this cast, but at the same time I think back to the original show , say the first four years, and the casting of the show and how many changes there were in the first four years, there were big changes, and you’d expect it to be no different on this one, that there will be changes. “

The good news is the fact that now NCIS: Origins received a full-season pickup with five extra episodes added for a season total of 18, the series will have time to work out all the kinks.

NCIS: Origins sent on Monday evening at 10:00 PM ET/PT on CBS.

Related: NCIS: Origins Showrunners on how Mark Harmon’s narration brings us inside Gibbs’ head