Mark Harmon is back! The 71-year-old will appear as Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the third season of ” NCIS: Origins .” His return begins in the US on October 6th, while viewers in Germany will likely have to wait until early 2027 for the new episodes to premiere on Joyn and Sat.1.
After leaving “NCIS” Gibbs lives a secluded life in Alaska , enjoying his well-deserved retirement with his loyal rescue dog . But the idyllic peace is short-lived: ghosts from the past catch up with the former NCIS agent and disturb his tranquility.
The premiere episode, titled ” Don’t You Forget About Me ,” shows Gibbs in the present day. “What happens in the present is directly related to events from his Camp Pendleton days in the ’90s,” explained showrunner David J. North . This connection will be revealed over the course of the season.
The idea for Gibbons’ return arose from conversations with Harmon himself. “Mark and I had been talking for a while about how exciting it would be for the fans if Gibbons returned,” North said. It had been almost six years since Harmon’s departure from “NCIS . “
90s nostalgia and relationship drama
They both loved the idea of Gibbs being happy in Alaska. “But at the same time, Mark was excited to give the fans what they wanted,” North said. He presented Harmon with an idea, and Harmon responded immediately.
Harmon is already the narrator and executive producer of the series. He didn’t need much convincing to return as an actor. “Honestly, no. Mark is so supportive of the show and was happy to do it ,” North said. Fans are speculating about further surprises. North left the door open for other NCIS stars . “I would say that’s definitely a possibility ,” the showrunner said vaguely.
The third season relies heavily on 90s nostalgia . The team even built a Blockbuster video store specifically for some scenes. “I think it will bring back a lot of fond memories for people,” North said.
The cast and crew are also very enthusiastic. Besides the interesting cases, the characters are the main focus. The relationship between Gibbs ( Austin Stowell ) and Lala ( Mariel Molino ) is a major part of the season.
After their kiss at the end of season two, there’s a lot to sort out. “The Gibbs-and-Lala relationship is a huge part of season three,” North explained. “They had that big kiss at the end of last season, but their feelings for each other are complicated.”
One question remains: Could Gibbs die at the end of the season? NCIS has a history of such twists. “You’ll have to wait and see,” North said.
