NCIS: Origins’ New Gibbs Will Be Different Because Of Mark Harmon

NCIS: Origins will take a different course, thanks to Mark Harmon. The seasoned actor portrayed the legendary Leroy Jethro Gibbs character in the original NCIS series that spun off from the 1990s legal procedural JAG. The NCIS: Origins prequel will explore the origin story of Mark Harmon’s character, but the catch is that the series will go back in time to explore how the Special Agent-in-Charge came to be. Austin Stowell took over the role of Jethro Gibbs for the prequel series, and he will form a new Gibbs persona as he starts at NIS at California’s Camp Pendleton.

The original actor portrayed Leroy Jethro Gibbs on the flagship for years until Mark Harmon exited NCIS in season 19. While the actor stepped away from the role in 2021, Harmon remains ingrained in the NCIS franchise, working as an executive producer for the flagship series even after his departure. He holds the same role on NCIS: Origins alongside his son, Sean Harmon. As such, Mark Harmon has sizable leverage on how the prequel series turns out and has undoubtedly exercised it. However, Harmon used his leverage to give Stowell freedom with the Jethro Gibbs role.

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Mark Harmon’s Advice To Austin Stowell Inevitably Results In A Different Gibbs In NCIS: Origins
Austin Stowell Will Create A New Leroy Jethro Gibbs

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As an executive producer for NCIS: Origins,Mark Harmon has had opportunities to impart wisdom to his successor. In an August 2024 TV Insider interview, the NCIS: Origins young Gibbs actor revealed Harmon’s advice for playing the character was simple: “Trust yourself.” The words are powerful, especially from someone with an established presence as the character. Mark Harmon would have every authority, as executive producer and the original Gibbs actor, to try to control the next installment of the character. Instead, his comment suggests he wants Austin Stowell to make the role his own rather than copy his performance.

The NCIS: Origins series premiere is on CBS on Monday, October 14, at 9 pm Eastern.

The vote of confidence that Mark Harmon trusts Austin Stowell is significant coming from someone who has played the role for nearly two decades, and Stowell is aware of Harmon’s massive presence as the character. Stowell said, “Mark Harmon has done a job that actors dream to do,” in the way he captured the world as Jethro Gibbs. Another comment Stowell made during the interview suggests he understood and will apply Harmon’s advice: “This is not the Gibbs leader that the world knows now.”Stowell’s understanding of the role’s complexity is promising for his success.

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Stowell Will Bring An Authentic Portrayal Of Gibbs

Austin Stowell’s interpretation of the role strikes the right balance. Austin Stowell has researched the Gibbs character and understands Mark Harmon’s impressive contributions to television as Jethro Gibbs. Still, Stowell understands that the Gibbs of NCIS: Origins is different. That’s good for NCIS: Origins because while the character has an established presence, Gibbs would have been an entirely different person a dozen years earlier than in 2003 when NCIS debuted. Stowell’s variant of the Gibbs character will encompass what happened to Gibbs’ family in NCIS, with NCIS: Origins exploring how that tragedy affected the future NCIS leader.