When NCIS required someone to play a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs, the cast didn’t have to seek far to locate the appropriate guy.
Sean Harmon, the son of Gibbs actor Mark Harmon, portrayed the young NCIS agent in seven episodes from 2008 to 2020. However, when it came to casting someone to play young Gibbs in the new prequel series NCIS: Origins, producers took a different approach.
Sean Harmon did not plan to’make a profession out of’ playing Gibbs.
Sean came up with the idea for an NCIS spinoff focusing on young Gibbs while portraying the character in a 2020 episode. NCIS: Origins will delve into Gibbs’ early days with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, when he is still suffering from the murders of his wife and small daughter.
“It was a lightning bolt moment. “Gibbs is a guy with something broken inside, a guy who could have gone down a darker path,” Sean stated during an appearance at the TCA Summer 2024 press conference (via USA Today).
“On NCIS, Gibbs had 30 years to come to terms with the trauma,” the actor said. “But on NCIS: Origins, this is a guy with none of the answers and all the trauma.”
Both Sean and his father will serve as executive producers for NCIS: Origins. The elder Harmon will also serve as the show’s narrator. However, Sean Harmon will not make an appearance in the new season. He’s cool with it.
“It was an absolute honor to step into the role; it will always be something I’ll hold close to my heart,” he stated. “In truth, I never intended to make a career out of it.”
Mark Harmon is glad to be a ‘remote’ part of ‘NCIS: Origins’
Mark Harmon is pleased to see someone person’s take on the character he played for 19 seasons. (Harmon departed NCIS in 2021.)
“I’m fine with the stepback role and (to) let the (new) cast do the work,” stated Harmon. “I’m happy to be a part of it. I am a faraway part. I’m only here to help.”
That assistance included some guidance for Austin Stowell, who has been cast as Gibbs in NCIS: Origins and is putting his own spin on the classic character.
“It’s not the Gibbs everyone knows. “This is a broken person looking for his identity,” Stowell explained. “During the screen test, Mark came up to me and gave me two words that I’ll remember forever — ‘trust yourself.'”
NCIS: Origins starts Monday, October 14 at 9 p.m. ET on CBS. It returns to its normal 10 p.m. hour on October 21.
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