The “NCIS”-verse expands (again)! CBS orders '90s-set prequel “NCIS: Origins, ”narrated by Mark Harmon

But who will play a young Gibbs?

In 2024, the biggest shared universe in pop culture is… NCIS?

Yeah, you read that right. On Friday, CBS announced a straight-to-series order for NCIS: Origins, a prequel series about a younger version of Mark Harmon's flagship character, Leroy Jethro Gibbs. The NCIS-verse will outlive us all — because crime never stops, so why would the agents who investigate it on land and sea?

According to a logline, NCIS: Origins is set in 1991, years prior to the events of NCIS. The new series will follow a young Gibbs as he starts his career as a newly minted special agent at the fledgling NCIS Camp Pendleton office, where he forges his place on a gritty, ragtag team led by legend Mike Franks.

After exiting NCIS four episodes into the series' 19th season, Harmon will return to the franchise to narrate Origins, meaning the network will cast a new actor to portray the younger version of his iconic character. (And just like that, every male actor in his 20s and 30s calls his agent.) Harmon will also executive-produce the prequel alongside his son Sean Harmon (who has previously played a young Gibbs), as well as Gina Lucita Monreal and David J. North, who will serve as co-showrunners and who both wrote on the flagship for 10 years. (North is currently co-showrunner and executive producer on NCIS.) 

"The character of Gibbs has been an important part of my life for 20 years, both in watching my father craft the role and previously having the honor to play young Gibbs myself," Sean said in a statement. "I always felt there was a tale worth telling about his earlier years, so I am thrilled to be stepping into a producing role alongside Gina, David, and my dad as we tell this story and reveal a new side of this beloved character."

Monreal and North added, "We're thrilled to be bringing this new chapter to life along with Mark and Sean Harmon. This really is the making of Leroy Jethro Gibbs. And even the most dedicated NCIS fans will discover that they don't know the whole story."

For those who have lost count, the NCIS-verse began in 2002, with the original series spinning off from JAG. NCIS then spawned NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, NCIS: Hawai'i, NCIS: Sydney, and the failed NCIS: Red, and the franchise has also crossed over with Hawaii Five-0 and Scorpion.

NCIS: Origins is set to premiere in the 2024-2025 TV season on CBS.

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Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.