NCIS: Origins is the newest CBS sequence going by offscreen adjustments — with the prequel dropping a showrunner after two seasons.
Co-showrunner Gina Lucita Monreal is departing from the present on the finish of the present season, in response to TVLine and Deadline. David J. North will stay and can function sole showrunner any more.
“Gina has been an essential beloved member of the ‘NCIS’ household for a few years,” CBS Leisure President Amy Reisenbach and CBS Studios President David Stapf stated in a joint assertion on Wednesday, January 28. “We’re extremely grateful to her for serving to launch and steer NCIS: Origins, and bringing these unbelievable characters and tales to life. We look ahead to working along with her once more sooner or later on new tasks, and know the artistic basis she helped construct will proceed to thrive.”
Monreal launched her personal assertion concerning the shock exit. “It’s been the most important honor of my profession to write down NCIS: Origin’ alongside my unbelievable co-showrunner and buddy David North,” she wrote. “I need to thank Amy Reisenbach, David Stapf, and everybody at CBS Community and Studio for his or her help.”
She continued: “To have had this chance to work once more with the incomparable Mark Harmon, Sean Harmon, our writers, and one of the best solid and crew within the enterprise — how fortunate am I? I can’t wait to see what this extraordinary group cooks up for season 3.”
NCIS: Origins, which premiered in October 2024, follows a younger Gibbs — a task originated by Mark Harmon — years previous to the occasions of NCIS. The brand new sequence picks up lower than a yr after Gibbs’ spouse and daughter have been killed. Throughout season 1, Gibbs began a brand new job as a particular agent on the NIS Camp Pendleton workplace whereas nonetheless coping with the aftermath of dropping his household.
Mariel Molino, Austin Stowell. Erik Voake/CBS
Harmon, 74, made his NCIS debut as Gibbs in 2003 and performed the lead position for 18 years. His last look aired in late 2021, and Harmon hasn’t returned to the flagship present since. He did, nevertheless, signal on to be the narrator for the prequel sequence and has served as an government producer on the undertaking alongside his eldest son, Sean Harmon.
“It’s a frightening job to recreate Gibbs and to return and attempt to inform this story whereas being respectful to the followers and to the story line of the unique present,” Stowell, 41, completely informed Us Weekly in November 2024 earlier than Harmon filmed present-day scenes for season 2. “We need to do our greatest job as actors, as artists, as writers and storytellers. Whereas there could possibly be numerous strain, Mark Harmon makes us really feel so snug and he makes us really feel justified in our choices.”
The actor revealed that it didn’t take lengthy for Harmon to share his opinion about Stowell’s efficiency.
“He gave it to me instantly within the room,” Stowell quipped. “He was vocal about — possibly not what to do — however actually [he was] guiding me extra when it comes to posture and mindset, issues that I’ve realized to inhabit all of the extra over time.”
Harmon, nevertheless, has “by no means given” Stowell any notes on his appearing. “He leads by instance. He’s a man who I’ve realized much more about being a human being than being Gibbs,” Stowell continued. “He’s been so welcoming — not simply to me and never simply to the remainder of the solid, however the entire crew. He’s actually such a beautiful chief for us as a result of he makes everyone really feel so snug.”
Earlier than NCIS: Origins returned for season 2 late final yr, Monreal and North teased their method to the prequel.
“That was actually our final purpose from the beginning was to make a present that the followers of the unique present cherished and felt happy by. However [it is] additionally [a show] that new viewers can are available in from the start of NCIS: Origins,” Monreal defined completely to Us in April 2025. “Viewers can soar in and never be confused and actually get on board with our characters and their tales. We’ve all the time approached it from that viewpoint. I really feel like we’ve succeeded.”
She continued: “We’re actually eager on sticking to canon [events]. We’re strict about that. We need to pay respect to the mothership. We each have written on the mothership and do love that present. However we additionally love branching out into our new characters and digging into their emotional lives.”
NCIS: Origins returns Tuesday, February 24, to CBS at 9 p.m. ET.
