The new prequel spinoff series NCIS: Origins will focus on the early investigative years of the young Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the early '90s. OG star Mark Harmon is involved as one of the executive producers.
The main NCIS series has shown flashbacks featuring young Gibbs with Mark Harmon's son Sean playing him. Now that it will be the focus of the new series, you might be wondering if you will see the same actor playing the role.
Who is Playing Young Gibbs in NCIS: Origins?
Despite playing young Gibbs in the original NCIS series, Sean Harmon won't be reprising the role in NCIS: Origins. He is only involved as an executive producer alongside his father.
Instead, The Hating Game star Austin Stowell will be taking on the younger version of the iconic character.
Aside from serving as an executive producer, Mark Harmon will also be narrating the series as he relays the story of his past during the present-day setting.
Stowell auditioned alongside many actors who were hoping to play the younger version of the iconic character. Ultimately, he was the one who prevailed and even almost missed the call when he got cast.
"Where I live is off the grid a bit. I walked back into the house, just got back on to service again, and there was a phone call coming through. So, truly, two minutes before then, I wouldn't have gotten the call," he shared.
"And it was [showrunners] David [J. North] and Gina [Lucita Monreal] and they were telling me that, essentially, my life was about to change."
Why Sean Harmon Did Not Return to Play Young Gibbs
Mark Harmon explained in a recent interview why his son Sean did not reprise the role of young Gibbs in NCIS: Origins.
He revealed that Sean is currently more focused on other duties and he was only interested in joining the project as an executive producer.
"He’s an actor, writer, producer a surfer, he does a lot of things. You have to come to decisions about what you want to do in life, or what you think’s important. I just think he made a choice and had to make a decision in some ways. He likes executive producing," the actor said.
Despite Sean not returning to the role, fans should still expect his imprint on the project and potentially give some advice on Stowell on how he can play the character since he has stepped in the shoes before.
Are you excited to see Stowell as young Gibbs? Let us know in the comments!
Make sure to follow our official Facebook page for more news and explainer articles about your favorite films and TV shows!