CBS Officially Unveils 3 Original NCIS Characters' Returns & Reunions

Published Oct 14, 2026, 7:00 AM EDT

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Three original NCIS characters are officially back for one special episode.

After 23 years on the air, the CBS procedural franchise is already revered as a TV institution. Aside from the flagship, which remains ever popular, it has also birthed several spinoffs over the years, with some even rivaling the original's success. In recent years, NCIS has seen some major changes, prompted by character exits, including Mark Harmon's Leroy Jethro Gibbs retiring, and unexpected show cancellations.

That said, this cycle feels like a return to the franchise's golden years, making it such an important part of CBS's fall 2026 slate. Several beloved characters from the past are coming back for some dose of nostalgia, starting with LL Cool J getting his own team as Sam Hanna in NCIS: New York. Meanwhile, the flagship has Michael Weatherly's Tony Dinozzo as the new director, while Harmon's Gibbs returns to civilization in NCIS: Origins season 3. The pair's paths are set to cross, but there's one more original character coming back for a more special outing.

CBS shares the trailer for NCIS: Origins season 3, episode 3, "Return of the Mack" (via TV Promos), which not only unveils the much-anticipated reunion between Gibbs and Tony, but also the return of Ducky Mallard, albeit played by Adam Campbell. Since the prequel now actively tackles two timelines, the present day delivers on the promised collaboration between the flagship's inaugural agents, while the early 90s aspect brings in young Ducky to help with whatever case Mike Franks' team at Camp Pendleton is tackling. Watch the video below:

Weatherly and Harmon's reunion has been 10 years-in-the-making. While Dinozzo returned for Ducky's farewell episode in NCIS season 21, Gibbs didn't. At that time, the former MCRT lead was settling in his retirement life in Alaska, where he stayed until he was forced to leave after getting shot at. The trailers for this season of the NCIS franchise previously revealed that Gibbs would be making his way back to Navy Yard, but it was only recently that it was confirmed that he would be meeting with the now NCIS Director Dinozzo.

Based on the trailer, it does seem like there was already some communication between the former co-workers before Gibbs stepped foot in Navy Yard. While the flagship has been very careful about giving updates regarding their former lead, it has been clear that he has been updated about what goes on in and around Navy Yard. In fact, Alden Parker even contacted him in NCIS season 23 to get justice for the untimely death of Director Leon Vance. The snippet shares a happy reunion, but it's safe to say that the pair will have to eventually get down to business, considering the overarching narrative in NCIS: Origins.

As for the other timeline, young Ducky is back at Camp Pendleton as he "helps the team investigate when a young Marine is found murdered on a beach with suspicious markings all over his body." Not much else is revealed about the matter, and while it sounds like a simple case, it's curious if CBS can find a way to connect the two NCIS narratives. After all, Tony also had a strong connection with David McCallum's version of Ducky, as he was the ME of the agency throughout his time with MCRT.

NCIS: Origins

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  Austin Stowell

  Leroy Jethro Gibbs

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  Kyle Schmid

  Special Agent Mike Franks