# NCIS franchise expansion and character returns > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/ncis-new-york-television-series-development > Updated: 2026-09-08T12:33:15.000Z. Sources: 19. Developments: 6. The NCIS television franchise is expanding with several new developments. The upcoming series ‘NCIS: New York’ is scheduled to premiere on October 6 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS and Paramount+. LL Cool J will reprise his role as Special Agent Sam Hanna, a character originally from ‘NCIS: Los Angeles’. In this spin-off, Hanna returns to his hometown to lead a team protecting New York City and its ports. The series premiere will focus on Hanna investigating the death of a friend, Navy reservist Jack Halloway, seeking permission from the New York NCIS office director, Robyn Wells, played by Jennifer Beals. Hanna will be paired with Special Agent Nick Schaeffer, played by Scott Caan, who is described as a “roguish agent”. The supporting cast includes Jacqueline Byers as Special Agent Addy Ross, Shane Harper as Special Agent Wyatt Sellers, and Devin Druid as tech expert Sean Sullivan. The series is executive produced by R. Scott Gemmill. In addition to the New York expansion, Mark Harmon is set to return to his role as Leroy Jethro Gibbs for a full season in the third season of ‘NCIS: Origins’. While Harmon previously served as a producer and narrator for the prequel, the upcoming season, titled ‘Don’t You Forget About Me’, will feature him on-screen as an older Gibbs living in Alaska. Showrunner David J. North stated the decision to bring Harmon back was driven by a desire to provide fans with a “satisfying conclusion to the character's story”. A newly released trailer for the 10-episode season, premiering October 6, reveals a dual narrative structure. In the present day, Gibbs’ retirement is interrupted by “ghosts from his past”, prompting his return to duty. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-08: Mark Harmon to reprise Gibbs role in ‘NCIS: Origins’ Season 3 Mark Harmon will return as Leroy Jethro Gibbs in every episode of ‘NCIS: Origins’ Season 3, which features a dual timeline between his present-day retirement and 1992 missions. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mark-harmon-to-return-as-gibbs-for-ncis-origins-season-3 ### 2026-09-04: Mark Harmon to reprise role as Gibbs in ‘NCIS: Origins’ season 3 Mark Harmon is returning to his role as Leroy Jethro Gibbs for a full-time appearance in season 3 of ‘NCIS: Origins’, featuring the character in retirement in Alaska. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ncis-franchise-expands-with-mark-harmon-return-and-new-spinoff ### 2026-09-04: LL Cool J returns in NCIS: New York spinoff LL Cool J returns as Sam Hanna in the upcoming NCIS spinoff ‘NCIS: New York’, a darker and edgier series following a murder investigation in the city. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ll-cool-j-returns-in-ncis-new-york-spinoff ### 2026-08-22: NCIS expands franchise with new New York City spinoff A new NCIS spinoff set in New York City is set to premiere in October, featuring returning cast members LL Cool J and Scott Canna alongside new characters. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ncis-expands-franchise-with-new-new-york-city-spinoff ### 2026-08-19: LL Cool J to star in new NCIS: New York spin-off LL Cool J returns as Sam Hanna in the new CBS spin-off ‘NCIS: New York’, premiering October 6 alongside co-star Scott Caan. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ll-cool-j-to-star-in-new-ncis-new-york-spin-off ### 2026-08-16: LL Cool J returns as Sam Hanna in NCIS: New York LL Cool J returns as Sam Hanna in the new CBS spinoff ‘NCIS: New York’, premiering October 6 alongside Scott Caan and Jennifer Beals. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ll-cool-j-returns-as-sam-hanna-in-ncis-new-york --- Cite as: NCIS franchise expansion and character returns. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/ncis-new-york-television-series-development