The NCIS franchise is preparing for a massive shakeup in Season 3 of its prequel series, and fans of the legendary procedural universe are in for an incredible surprise.
While cast shakeups and roster shifts are standard fare in high-stakes TV dramas, the upcoming installment—kicking off with an episode titled “Don’t You Forget About Me”—is bringing back a titan of the franchise. Mark Harmon is officially returning to step back into the iconic boots of Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
This isn’t just a brief cameo or a voiceover narration, either. Harmon will be directly involved in a present-day storyline that connects directly to his character’s ’90s background at Camp Pendleton. The action-packed mystery will unravel across the entire season, with Harmon slated to appear in every single episode.
Harmon’s return adds an exciting, multi-generational layer to the series, which continues to anchor itself around Austin Stowell as the younger incarnation of Gibbs. Stowell is fully confirmed to return for Season 3, continuing to lead the prequel’s ensemble cast.
Stepping into a legacy role originally built over decades by television royalty is no easy feat, a reality Stowell doesn’t take lightly. In a candid interview with Deadline, the actor admitted to feeling the immense weight of taking on such a revered figure.
“I was scared for so many reasons,” Stowell shared, reflecting on his early days with the project. “There were just so many first times. For me, it was the first time doing a network TV show, first time playing a character that had already been portrayed before me, first time to be number one on a call sheet.”
Despite the initial nerves, Stowell embraces the intense expectations that come with leading a major network hit. “I’m someone who likes pressure; I like to be put in that situation. I want the ball in my hands at the bottom of the ninth. I feel like I do thrive in that situation,” he explained. Still, he acknowledged that the character’s roots will always belong to the actor who originated him. “I don’t think I’ll ever quite get comfortable because, at the end of the day, Gibbs will always be Mark Harmon’s character, and I’m playing the younger version of that.”
That dynamic makes Harmon’s full-season return even more intriguing. With two actors portraying the legendary lawman across different timelines within the same season, the show is breaking fresh ground while expanding the NCIS landscape.
The prequel series will air alongside both the flagship NCIS series and the brand-new spinoff NCIS: New York, forming a massive lineup for procedural enthusiasts. As Season 3 approaches, viewers are left wondering how Gibbs’ present-day investigation will mirror his early military days—and what long-buried secrets from Camp Pendleton are finally about to come to light.
