Sam Hanna (LL Cool J) has been a fixture in the NCIS universe for a long time, first appearing in the mothership series before moving to NCIS: Los Angeles. Cool J appeared on the spinoff series for fourteen seasons before the show ended in 2023. The actor makes a comeback in the Monday, April 21 episode of NCIS where a case can not be solved without his presence. “When a trio of combat vets are found murdered in a D.C. motel room, NCIS tracks down a suspect who refuses to talk to anyone but Sam Hanna,” reveals the logline for NCIS Season 22, Episode 18, “After the Storm.” CBS released a sneak peek of the episode, showing Sam reuniting with the team as a serious case demands his attention and his attention only.
The video below tees up Sam’s importance in the case as several members of the D.C. team introduce the case and set up Sam’s part in it. As they speak, Sam makes his grand entrance in the clip that features a split screen, heightening the dramatic tone of the character’s return. “I’m here,” he tells the suspect, adding, “Talk!” His return will allow the character to catch up with his friends in the team, as teased by his interaction with Jimmy (Brian Dietzen) . Returning to NCIS was not something Cool J thought too much about. “I like the character, he’s beloved and it’s so fun playing him. I don’t see why I wouldn’t come back,” he told People.
Sam Hanna Brings Mad Fun to ‘NCIS’ in Season 22, Episode 18
Cool J teased an elevated episode as Sam’s charm takes center stage. “It has all the same chemistry that people love plus more action, thrills, and suspense. It’s a big episode for the flagship show. You get a little extra dessert with dinner,” he told the outlet. “It’s going to be fantastic, and I think people are really going to lose their s**t,” NCIS star Brian Dietzen told TV Insider when teasing a mysterious guest star in the episode. “It’s always so much fun when Sam comes and, kind of like, disrupts the normal flow of the team. I think that his kind of involvement in the case…I’m not sure if we could have the case without him,” series star Diona Reasonover said, echoing Dietzen’s sentiments.
Tune in to CBS on Monday, April 21, to watch “After the Storm” and witness Sam’s return. Stay tuned to Collider for more NCIS updates.