There is a lot NCIS fans can look forward to in the upcoming season, but it seems there is one key element fans shouldn’t hold out hope for this season.
While recent seasons have welcomed the returns of former NCIS franchise stars, most recently with LL Cool J returning for a guest arc, reprising his NCIS: Los Angeles role, it seems the show is not planning for the return of any past or spinoff cast members in season 23.
Speaking with TV Insider about the upcoming season, executive producer Steven D. Binder revealed that the show currently has no active plans to bring back any former NCIS characters, nor are there plans for any cast members from the NCIS spinoffs to make a guest appearance in the upcoming season. While this could always change as NCIS season 23 still has a long way to go in its current production, the fact that there aren’t any active plans to bring back former NCIS stars or anyone from the spinoffs suggests that the odds aren’t looking good.
It’s definitely a disappointing update as it’s always fun when we get the chance to see former characters from the flagship series or the spinoffs return. These guest spots not only allow us to catch up with beloved characters, but also help keep the characters and the spinoffs alive by giving us updates on what the characters have been up to.
Given LL Cool J’s recent return, we’re okay with knowing we won’t get to see Sam Hanna back in season 23. However, there are many other characters we’d love to see back. At the top of our wishlist remains Vanessa Lachey, who led NCIS: Hawaii as NCIS Special Agent in Charge Jane Tennant. While we did get an update on Tennant during Sam’s guest arc, we’d love to see Lachey reprise her role and give us some closure on NCIS: Hawaii’s abrupt cancellation.
Although we won’t be seeing former NCIS stars or actors from the franchise spinoffs appearing in the season, fans still can look forward to some crossover action in the season ahead.
CBS has confirmed that it will stage the first NCIS x NCIS: Origins crossover event on Veterans Day. The crossover will bring together the two shows in a case that spans decades, giving fans what is sure to be the most unique crossover yet.
The creative teams have to work around the fact that the two shows are set decades apart, which means we aren’t likely to see the characters from the two shows sharing the screen in new scenes. Instead, it’s likely the narratives of the shows will blend together via flashbacks as we watch the NCIS team work the case in the present day, as the NCIS: Origins team works the case back in the 90s. And who knows, maybe we’ll even see Mark Harmon return to NCIS for the first time since his exit in 2021 as part of the crossover!
NCIS season 23 premieres Tuesday, October 14 at 8/7c on CBS.