Hollywood, CA – After nearly two decades as the face of the hit CBS drama NCIS, Mark Harmon is stepping behind the camera to usher in a new era for one of television’s most beloved characters. As the executive producer and narrator of the NCIS prequel series, NCIS: Origins, Harmon is helping to bring the early years of Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs to life, with actor Austin Stowell taking on the iconic role.
“This is a chance to really kind of dig into it,” Harmon says of the opportunity to explore Gibbs’ backstory in the new series, set in 1991. “You come in and audition here for years and years, and all of a sudden, you’re presented with a badge with your name on it,” Stowell adds, reflecting on the significance of taking on such a beloved character.
Casting the role of young Gibbs was a crucial decision for the NCIS: Origins team, as they sought to find someone who could capture the essence of the character that Harmon had made so memorable throughout 19 seasons. For Stowell, it was a challenge he was eager to take on, drawing on his own experiences to portray Gibbs’ grief and pain following the loss of his wife and child.
“Loss is something we all deal with, and for Gibbs, this is something that has cracked him to his core,” Stowell explains. Harmon has been a steady presence on set, offering guidance and support to Stowell and the rest of the cast as they navigate this new chapter in the NCIS universe.
“From day one, Mark has been available,” Stowell says. “He’s so good at allowing the people who are on this show to feel like they are supported.” Harmon, for his part, has made it clear that this new series belongs to the younger generation of actors, with the veteran actor serving as a mentor and sounding board rather than a commanding presence.
“I’m there to help and to talk to them or to tell them what I remember from being in this for a while,” Harmon explains. “But this is their thing.”
The set of NCIS: Origins, which features scenes at Camp Pendleton and locations like Daley’s Tavern, a bar just off-base, has provided a new and different backdrop for the iconic character. For Stowell, it’s a role that has been a dream come true, even if the initial audition process left him uncertain.
“I felt very confident in what I could bring to the character, and then the second you walk in the room, that all goes out the window,” Stowell admits. But with Harmon’s guidance and the support of the entire cast and crew, Stowell has found his footing and brought a fresh perspective to the character that fans have come to know and love.
“We’re a family already,” Harmon says, reflecting on the camaraderie and collaboration that has defined the NCIS: Origins production. “And if you can bring that to it too, what Austin’s talking about, then you venture into the territory of something special, and it is becoming a little more than a job.”
For Harmon, the opportunity to help shape the next chapter of the NCIS franchise has been a labor of love. It has allowed him to pass the torch to a new generation of agents while maintaining a connection to the character that has defined his career.
“This is a place where everybody’s busting their tail because they want it to be good,” Harmon says. “It’s not about a paycheck.”
As NCIS: Origins prepares to debut on CBS, Harmon, and Stowell are eager to share this new perspective on the beloved Gibbs with audiences. For Stowell, it’s a chance to honor the character’s legacy while also carving out his unique interpretation, guided by Harmon’s steady hand and wealth of experience.
“I’ve been able to concentrate on what I need to concentrate on because I do feel like I have a safety net,” Stowell says. And with Harmon’s unwavering support, he’s confident he can do justice to the character that has captivated fans for two decades.