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Mark Harmon‘s Leroy Jethro Gibbs and Muse Watson’s late Mike Franks won’t be the only veteran NCIS characters getting the backstory treatment when NCIS: Origins debuts on CBS next season.
TVLine has learned exclusively that producers will also be introducing the young version of Special Agent Vera Strickland, the character originated by Roma Maffia a decade ago in the Season 11 NCIS installment “Under the Radar.” In the episode, it was established that Strickland was Franks’ onetime partner.
An NCIS rep declined to comment for this story.
As we reported last week, NCIS: Origins will turn back the clock on Harmon’s iconic character, revealing how Gibbs came to be the man he is today (and presumably how he amassed all those rules). Set in 1991, the franchise’s latest offshoot picks up with Gibbs 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 NCIS legend Mike Franks.”
In addition to exec-producing the series, Harmon will also return to narrate NCIS: Origins. He starred on the original NCIS for its first 19 seasons, eventually making a dramatic exit in 2021.
Meanwhile, Harmon’s son Sean Harmon, who came up with the idea for NCIS: Origins, will also serve as an EP. Though Sean played a younger version of his dad’s character on NCIS, a new actor is being tapped to portray him in NCIS: Origins. And the same goes for both Franks and (now) Strickland.
“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,” noted Sean in a statement that accompanied last week’s series-order announcement. “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.”
I thought for sure it was going to be Young Ducky. I don’t remember Vera Strickland at all!
Gibbs and Ducky first met in 1980, so I would think Ducky will show up sooner or later, depending on what happens with this show.
She appeared in the third episode of Season 11, Under the Radar.
She was one of the “replacements” once Ziva left, before Ellie Bishop joined the team. She came in, for a episode as the character was about to retire. Apparently able to not come into headquarters for like decades but was being forced too. Of course, it ended up being short-lived. She was apparently Mike’s final partner before his retirement. So, Gibbs knew her well.
I do. She was the chick that sprained her ankle while on a case being partners with Tony when McGee lost his creds.
If the part of Mike Franks has not been cast. I would suggest Donal Lounge for the part.
Logue?
I loved it when the young Ducky was on NCIS. The actor who played him was very good. Young Ducky is a story all on his own. I hope Ducky is add ed d to NCIS: Origins.
I remembered her!! she got shot in her last day of work!! Vera it was funny, i like her!
She didn’t get shot!
I hope they remember that NCIS wasn’t called NCIS in 1991.
They have acknowledged it in previously episodes – the episodes where Jenny died come to mind.
NCIS is the brand viewers are familiar with and NCIS originated as NIS so it still works.
I sincerely hope that they have Mike Frank’s as a big part of the series. They should also bring Duane Pride character back. In an episode of NCIS they had an old picture of all the original agents. I’m looking forward to this spinoff. Get rid of Hawaii and Austraia.
Australia?
So Gibbs should be around 40ish? Maybe a little younger? Mike a little older, Vera a little younger? Age matching for continuity can be hard re Endeavour (ITV). Either way, I’ll watch!
Glad they’re keeping up with continuity. She was in season 11 after Ziva left and before Bishop joined. The team used twitter to locate a rogue navy pilot out for revenge. From all accounts she was a senior agent over Gibbs back then as she called him probie.
The show, after years of being, shall we say, less than specific about Gibbs’ age, finally settled on his birth year being 1954. So that would have made him 36-37 years old in 1991. Close enough to being 40ish
I meant seniority as an agent. When Vera Strickland was introduces she was retiring which meant she was older in age than Gibbs. And from the way she acted she definitley felt like the Dinozzo to Gibbs McGee.
I could have sworn Ducky is supposed to have started working at NCIS around 1992.
Pride is already working at NIS, so is Vance.
Abby and Jenny would show up around season 8, Tony in season 9-10.
Ducky was already working at the NIS office at the Navy Yard in Washington DC – in the 400th episode he comes to DC in 1981 and meets Gibbs while Gibbs is still a Marine and not yet married (the prequel is set at Camp Pendleton in California in ’91, so Ducky can’t be there). Pride is introduced as a colleague of Gibbs and Franks in the planted spin-off, but NCIS New Orleans changed that in its last season. Vance was recruited in the 90’s and probably not NIS, but already NCIS. He appears not to have met Gibbs until after Franks retired. Jenny was definitely NCIS (met Gibbs after Mike Franks retired, so after ’96). Abby and Tony were later, and not part of this.
What about a young Jenny Shepard and Vance. Middle Aged Ducky
I know that there are a lot of people out there that don’t care for Jenny. She is something of a broken base character. But she is simply too big of a character and has too big of a role in Gibb’s story to simply ignore.
I gave up on NCIS when DiNozzo and others left and their replacements didn’t seem to gel with the remaining cast. Plus, Leroy acted as a rookie and didn’t seem sure of himself as he was so domineering in previous years. However, I will give “Origins” a viewing and hope it will rekindle my enjoyment of NCIS.
Got to have a young ducky too at some point.
I don’t believe just anyone can be Gibbs…. The one they get to play Gibbs NEEDS to have blue eyes other wise it just won’t be Gibbs.
I’ll watch it once just to see if it works, but no promises as I do like Gibbs if they pick the wrong person it just WON’T WORK!
He’ll have blue eyes. If they end up hiring someone with brown eyes, then he’ll just wear contacts. This franchise hasn’t lasted so long by being run by dumb people.
Wasn’t Pride also part of that crew
How cool!!! I’ve loved watching NCIS and how the characters have “grown” and (sadly) moved on. Looking forward to watching this NCIS “prequel” when it premieres. I hope they would do the same for other past beloved characters.
TBH, I was kind of expecting this article to mean it would be Hetty.
FYI Harmon stated he hated the Los Angeles spin off and wanted very little interaction with it or mentions from the flagship show. He only went along with it at the time because back then NCIS was still in its early stages and he had little say. I seriously doubt he will reference a show he dislikes in a show he is personally producing. Lost having lost his daughter Gibbs would never associate with someone like Hetty who recruits children into her personal war.
YAWN
If the part of Mike Franks has not been cast. I would suggest Donal Lounge for the part.
As a “VIETNAM ERA” Marine Veteran and later a Naval Veteran I wish this new show much success and a load: OOHRAH!!
So Sean Harmon ‘came up with the idea’. No doubt hoping to be cast as his father’s younger self again. He doesn’t have his father’s acting chops so its a good thing that he hasn’t been cast in the role but still gets an ‘EP’ credit (whatever that means). Talk about keeping it in the family. Won’t be watching – I could cope with ‘Hawaii’ but this and ‘Sydney’ are a bridge too far. Just let it die gracefully.
EP: Executive Producer
Yay
I always got a kick out of Muses’ visits. His snap-button shirts and western cut suits were so ‘outta here’ for stories unfolding in the DC area. It will be interesting to see the younger version in action.
Sounds like a great show! Can’t wait
Why? No more NCIS please!
Well, glad actors don’t die when a character does. Mike Franks is a legend.