Per Deadline, it’s been announced that newcomers to the cast of NCIS: Origins include Diany Rodriguez (The Blacklist, Twisted Metal) as a younger version of Vera Strickland, Mike Franks’ (Muse Watson) former partner. It had been previously reported that Vera, who was originally played by Roma Maffia in NCIS, would appear in the prequel series, but it wasn’t yet known who could portray the character. This Vera is described as a “no-nonsense, sharp-witted Brooklynite who’s tough as nails and never minces words. She’s spent her entire career being underestimated by misogynistic morons (as she calls them), but if it’s a fight those good ol’ boys are looking for, then it’s a fight they’re going to get.”
Another new addition to the cast is Tyla Abercrumbie (The Chi, The Chicago Code) as Field Operation Support Officer Mary Jo. This is an original character created for the new series. This character is described as “both a product of her time and the lifeblood of the Camp Pendleton office. With all the acronyms floating around the agency, this mama bear has wryly dubbed herself ‘HSIC’: Head Secretary in Charge. If you want to know where the bodies are buried, Mary Jo’s the one to ask.”
It was previously revealed that the cast would feature Austin Stowell playing a younger version of Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Mark Harmon’s character from NCIS, though Harmon will also reprise the role in voice only by serving as the show’s narrator. Kyle Schmid has also been cast as the young Mike Franks, formerly played by Muse Watson. Meanwhile, Mariel Molino will play Special Agent Lala Dominguez, another original character.
Sean Harmon, Mark Harmon’s son, previously played a young Gibbs in flashback scenes in the original NCIS series. Both Harmons are serving as executive producers on NCIS: Origins. Co-showrunners David J. North and Gina Lucita Monreal are also executive producing.
Multiple New Spinoffs to NCIS Are Coming
While NCIS, NCIS: Sydney, and NCIS: Hawai’i are still going strong, there will be more plans made to expand the franchise beyond the upcoming prequel series. It was recently announced that Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo would be reprising their respective roles as Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David in their own spinoff series. Reportedly set in Europe, the new series is in development for a streaming release on Paramount+.