NCIS's Original Series Actor Recast Could Accomplish A Feat That Was Impossible For 18 Years
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For over two decades, NCIS had a special place for Sean Harmon, the son of Gibbs' actor Mark Harmon, but after a recent recast, an impossible feat could be achieved by the long-running franchise. The elder Harmon, who appeared on the flagship NCIS series for its first 19 seasons, will be returning to the franchise in NCIS: Origins season 3, but his son had a very different role within the franchise. First appearing during NCIS season 6's episode "Heartland" during flashbacks, the younger Harmon stepped into the Gibbs role, playing a younger version of his father's character throughout the years.
The casting decision worked well for the NCIS franchise in earlier years, with both Harmon’s getting the chance to shine as they played the same character. With Sean playing the younger version of Gibbs, viewers could truly feel the connection between the characters, which grounded the flashback sequences of NCIS in a way that made sense for the audience. The arrangement with the father-son duo playing the same character did create a difficult circumstance for the NCIS universe when it came down to the pair wanting to share the screen together, which became a truly impossible task within the timeline.
With the elder Harmon having left NCIS years ago, his return to NCIS: Origins creates an interesting opportunity for the franchise, who's also brought the younger Harmon into the fold. While it isn't formally revealed, it's possible that Origins could bring both Harmon's on screen together in the same scene.
Sean Harmon Is Getting Recast For NCIS: Origins Season 3
After spending years as a part of the NCIS franchise playing Gibbs' younger self, Sean Harmon has become a part of NCIS: Origins' cast. Joining the cast as Casey Bloom, Harmon will be playing the Marine sniper and close friend of Gibbs, an important figure in the prequel's exploration of Gibbs' life before NCIS. With the elder Harmon returning to Origins as Gibbs in the present day while Austin Stowell plays him in the past, the fact that Sean is making his return to the franchise as a new character makes it possible that both Harmon's could appear on-screen together.
Both Harmon's have been involved with NCIS: Origins since the beginning of the show's run, though in very different capacities. The elder Harmon has been involved as the present-day Gibbs, narrating the series and producing it, while the younger Harmon was part of the creative team that came up with the idea of creating the series. As an executive producer, the younger Harmon has been part of the series since the start, but seeing him on screen will be an exciting part of NCIS: Origins season 3 as he takes on a new role for the exciting dual timeline series.
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NCIS: Origins Season 3 Sets Up Sean & Mark Harmon Sharing A Scene For The First Time
While there's no guarantee that it will happen as NCIS: Origins season 3 continues, the series is setting up the potential for the Harmon's to end up on screen together. Throughout the run of the NCIS franchise, there hasn't been an opportunity for Mark and Sean to wind up on screen together, mostly because of the timelines they worked with. With both Harmon's playing the same character, there was no chance for past-Gibbs and present-Gibbs to be in a scene together. While there could've been some sense of magical realism to get them into the same shot, it didn't happen.
Now, getting into the way that NCIS: Origins has been throughout its run, it's possible that viewers could get the chance to see both Harmon's playing completely different NCIS characters in the same show. The possibility that the Harmon's could act together could be huge for the father-son pair, and could be an exciting thing to see for NCIS viewers who have long hoped that the franchise would be able to feature the duo. NCIS: Origins season 3 is going to be a must-watch for newer fans and long-time franchise viewers.
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NCIS: Origins
- Release Date
- October 14, 2024
- Network
- CBS
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Austin Stowell
Leroy Jethro Gibbs
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Kyle Schmid
Special Agent Mike Franks
NCIS: Origins is set in 1991, preceding the events of the original series. The series introduces Leroy Jethro Gibbs as a new special agent at NCIS Camp Pendleton. Under the leadership of NCIS legend Mike Franks, Gibbs navigates his role within a tenacious, unconventional team.
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NCIS is a television series that follows a team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Premiering in 2003, the show explores various cases involving Navy and Marine Corps personnel, ranging from murder and espionage to terrorism and stolen submarines.
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