Mark Harmon on Returning to ‘NCIS: Origins’ After Choosing to Leave Franchise — and Why His Son Isn’t Portraying Young Gibbs in Prequel

As a long-time fan of NCIS and a connoisseur of TV history, I must say that I am thrilled to see Mark Harmon returning to the world of Jethro Gibbs, even if it’s just for a bit. After 18 years on the show, he’s not one to easily let go. When talks of a prequel started swirling, I knew it was only a matter of time before he found himself back in the thick of things.


Mark Harmon holds Jethro Gibbs close to his heart.

Following an 18-year run as the special agent on “NCIS”, Harmon bid farewell to the series as a regular in 2021 but continued to maintain his position within the show. Yet, he couldn’t stray too far – his affection for the role was too profound to be easily forgotten. Consequently, when discussions of a Gibbs prequel emerged between showrunners David J. North and Gina Lucita Monreal, Harmon felt inexorably drawn towards it, eager to rejoin the cast.

Is there a tale to share? Absolutely. Will it deviate from what’s already known? Without a doubt. I am incredibly excited about Gina and David, the characters they portray, and their connection to this show, ‘NCIS: Origins,’ which is set to premiere on October 14. They were exceptional collaborators on that series, and I admire their work immensely. I’m eager to safeguard their representation.

According to Harmon, it’s been a challenging ride, but he’s content to savor the peace before the upcoming series debut.

He explains that the task ahead will require a lot of effort, and there’s no doubt that things will shift. There are aspects you can manage yourself, others you’ll need to battle for, and some you just can’t change. Currently, it seems like we’ve had to struggle for every bit of progress, but it feels satisfying.

Mark Harmon on Returning to ‘NCIS: Origins’ After Choosing to Leave Franchise — and Why His Son Isn’t Portraying Young Gibbs in Prequel

The series begins at Camp Pendleton in 1991, not long after the tragic murder of Gibbs’ wife and child. Austin Stowell takes on the role of a young Gibbs, a character previously played by Sean Harmon’s son, on seven episodes of “NCIS.” For this spin-off, Sean is one of the executive producers.

Harmon expresses that his son is versatile, engaged in acting, writing, production, and surfing. He highlights that making choices about one’s life path or priorities is crucial. In his opinion, his son opted to focus on executive producing, which seems to be more appealing to him.

Mark Harmon has been readily approachable on set, ready to answer any queries from the cast, given his extensive experience in the role. His confidence in the show and its creators made him eager to return to that familiar environment.

Gina and David had requested me for the voiceover role, which I’d always assumed. However, I’m not sure if it was clear at first how this would be executed,” he explains to EbMaster. “Following that, the question became: How will you perform it? Will he be there with his finger on his chin in thought, or perhaps writing a book?

Harmon is set to make an appearance in the premiere, and specifics about his role are being kept secret for a surprise reveal. When asked about it, Harmon playfully hinted at his cameo during a recent panel discussion. The news was divulged by North at that event last month.

Regardless of the circumstances, Harmon encourages everyone to continue enjoying their time on set, and so far, that’s exactly what they’ve been doing.

Clearly, changes are necessary. After all, life is about evolving, and everyone is putting in their best effort with a positive outlook. Once our work is presented for evaluation, it will undoubtedly influence certain aspects. However, our responsibility lies in consistently striving to maintain a high standard, even when planning the next episode.

“NCIS: Origins” premieres on CBS Monday, Oct. 14, at 9 p.m. ET.

Read More

2024-10-11 20:46