The recent announcement that Mark Harmon would be returning as Gibbs in NCIS: Origins means that another NCIS character needs to reappear as well. After Mark Harmon left NCIS in season 19, there were worries that he would never appear as Gibbs again. Harmon played Leroy Jethro Gibbs for over 18 years and his character’s portrayal left a profound impact on the series, making him one of the most beloved NCIS actors in the history of the franchise.
Harmon’s reappearance in NCIS: Origins is an exciting development for the prequel, which will follow a young Gibbs at the start of his professional career as a special agent. The NCIS: Origins cast will feature several new characters to the franchise, but it will also feature characters that have appeared on NCIS before. The exciting announcement that Harmon would be returning to the franchise is exciting on its own terms, but it also sets up the possibility for another important NCIS character to return – Muse Watson’s Mike Franks.
Mark Harmon Will Appear In The NCIS: Origins Premiere
Mark Harmon Will Reprise His Famous Portrayal As Gibbs
In an interview with Deadline, NCIS co-showrunner, David J. North revealed that Mark Harmon would be reappearing as Gibbs in the NCIS: Origins premiere. The news that Harmon would be appearing in the prequel came as an exciting announcement since Mark Harmon’s Gibbs has not appeared in NCIS for several years. North said that Harmon was part of the discussion about having him reappear as Gibbs. NCIS: Origins is set to star Austin Stowell as the young Gibbs, with Mark Harmon playing a more minor role.
Having Harmon give important context and emotional cues will help tie the prequel to NCIS and add some familiarity to each episode…
Harmon will specifically be playing the role of the narrator as he tells the story of what happened in 1991 that led to his career in NCIS in the early 2000s. Having Harmon give important context and emotional cues will help tie the prequel to NCIS and add some familiarity to each episode, since the cast will look completely different to any current NCIS show.
Although Mark Harmon’s Gibbs is not returning in NCIS season 22, it will be nice to see him reappear in the NCIS franchise through his vocal appearance in NCIS: Origins. This aspect of his performance also opens the door to Watson’s return as Franks.
Harmon’s Appearance As Old Gibbs Paves The Way For Muse Watson’s Return As Old Franks
Watson Could Appear As Another Narrator
Although NCIS: Origins focuses on 1991, the appearance of Mark Harmon’s Gibbs opens up the possibility of Muse Watson’s return as Mike Franks. Watson played Franks on NCIS for six years, from season 3 up until Franks’ death in season 8, when he was killed by the Port-to-Port Killer, an NCIS antagonist. Franks will also appear in NCIS: Origins, but the younger version will be played by Kyle Schmid. If Harmon is able to narrate Stowell’s scenes as Gibbs, then it’s possible that Watson could return in a similar supporting role for Schmid.
Even though Mike Franks is deceased in present-day NCIS, he could still appear in NCIS: Origins via a cameo or narration. Franks appeared on NCIS several times after his death on the show through Gibbs’ imagination in seasons 8 through 15. Having Old Franks reappear in NCIS: Origins would not veer too far off the realm of possibilities in the NCIS franchise, since it has happened before. Watson’s reappearance would also help connect the two shows further by having two returning NCIS cast members appear in the prequel.
Why Franks Is As Important To NCIS: Origins As NCIS
Franks Is Significant To Gibbs’ Backstory
Even though Mike Franks first appeared on NCIS in season 3, he and Gibbs have a long shared history. Franks was the former leader of the NIS Major Case Response Team before the organization became NCIS. He was also a significant mentor to Gibbs and helped him become the agent he is today. In NCIS, Gibbs often called upon Franks to help solve tough cases, using his expertise and loyalty to bring justice to open investigations. Franks also played a significant role in the NCIS season 5 finale, which ended with the death of NCIS director Jenny Shepard.
In NCIS: Origins, Franks will play a more direct role in Gibbs’ life as the two work together closely. But everything in NCIS: Origins will set up the context of their relationship in NCIS. While NCIS does feature flashbacks to explain how the two characters met, the prequel will expand on that on a closer level. NCIS: Origins will also highlight how Franks shaped Gibbs’ career and offered him guidance after Gibbs lost his wife and daughter. Their professional relationship will transform into the friendship that is shown in NCIS.