Though Mark Harmon’s Leroy Jethro Gibbs was performed by Harmon’s son Sean for a handful of NCIS flashbacks through the years, Austin Stowell was chosen final yr to take over because the youthful model of the character for NCIS: Origins. The prequel collection returns for Season 2 this October on the 2025 TV schedule, and there’s fairly a bit that early Nineties Gibbs should take care of following the surprising Season 1 finale. Forward of that premiere, Origins co-showrunner Gina Lucita Monreal defined why Stowell was a worthy successor for Harmon within the CBS procedural franchise, and it’s making me extra excited for Season 2.
Monreal, who shares showrunning duties on NCIS: Origins with David J. North, mentioned the thought that went into casting the younger Leroy Jethro Gibbs whereas talking with TVLine. When requested what she felt was the “most Gibbs” or “most Mark Harmon” about Austin Stowell, she answered:
He did a variety of analysis in watching previous episodes, and I’ll say bodily, there are issues that he does which can be so Mark’s Gibbs. Like, he’ll maintain his jaw a sure approach, or Mark does a factor typically after he’ll say a line that he is actually adamant about. He’ll perform a little nod, like that. Austin does that as effectively.
NCIS: Origins begins following Leroy Jethro Gibbs within the fall of 1991, when he’s simply joined NIS and is a number of months separated from the homicide of his spouse and daughter (although flashbacks did present him studying the devastating information and exacting revenge on Pedro Hernandez). So whereas he’s a methods off from changing into the crew chief we all know from the unique NCIS, Stowell’s Gibbs can also be sufficiently old to have these bodily quirks long-ingrained in his being. From Gina Lucita Monreal’s perspective, Austin Stowell does a fantastic job replicating stated quirks that Mark Harmon did when he was taking part in Gibbs.
Moreover, the co-showrunner thought Stowell additionally pulled off that delicate stability of exuding each power and ache that we so typically noticed Harmon do because the older Gibbs. As Monreal defined:
However the factor that actually made me really feel like Austin embodied who the character is that he had this stability of being damaged and being sturdy on the similar time. And that to me is a extremely arduous line to stroll. Austin does that in a masterful approach. I believe it is simply a part of who he’s as a human and as an actor, and we had been so fortunate to seek out him.
I used to be already impressed sufficient with Austin Stowell’s portrayal of Gibbs in NCIS: Origins Season 1, however listening to this contemporary spherical of reward from Gina Lucita Monreal has me trying ahead to Season 2’s arrival greater than I already was. And extra of Gibbs growing into the person viewers met in 2003 is simply the beginning of what’s arising within the subsequent season. We’ll additionally study the destiny of Lala Dominguez after she was caught in that automobile crash, see Mike Franks reunite together with his brother, and witness the large plans in retailer for Cliff Wheeler.
NCIS: Origins Season 2 will premiere Tuesday, October 14 at 9 pm ET, sandwiched between NCIS Season 23 and NCIS: Sydney Season 3. Earlier than these come out, the brand new spinoff NCIS: Tony & Ziva will start its run completely on Paramount+ beginning Thursday, September 4.