CBS casts Austin Stowell as young Leroy Jethro Gibbs in new drama series 'NCIS: Origins'

Press Release

CBS announced today that Austin Stowell has been cast as young Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the new drama “NCIS: Origins,” which has previously been ordered to series for the 2024-25 broadcast season.

“NCIS: Origins,” produced by CBS Studios, is the newest chapter in the “NCIS” franchise, exploring Gibbs’ early years. Narrated by Mark Harmon, the new series begins in 1991, years prior to the events of “NCIS,” and follows a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs. In the series, Gibbs starts his career as a newly minted special agent at the fledgling NIS Camp Pendleton office where he forges his place on a gritty, ragtag team led by NCIS legend Mike Franks.

Austin Stowell’s television credits include “A Friend of the Family,” “The Hating Game” opposite Lucy Hale, and “Breathe.” He starred opposite George Clooney, Chris Abbott and Hugh Laurie in the limited series “Catch 22”; in Steven Spielberg’s anthology series “Amazing Stories”; and “Public Morals,” which was also executive produced by Steven Spielberg and Ed Burns.

Stowell’s feature film credits include “Battle of the Sexes” alongside Emma Stone; “Bridge of Spies” with Tom Hanks; “This Tempting Madness”; “12 Strong” opposite Chris Hemsworth and Michael Shannon; as well as the Academy Award-winning “Whiplash” with JK Simmons, which was nominated for Best Picture and won the Audience and Grand Jury Prize at Sundance 2014. Additional credits include “Fantasy Island”; the indie award-winning drama “Swallow”; and “Colossal” with Anne Hathaway and Jason Sudeikis.

“NCIS: Origins” is produced by CBS Studios. Mark Harmon, Sean Harmon, David J. North and Gina Lucita Monreal will executive produce, with North and Monreal co-writing the premiere episode and serving as co-showrunners.

“NCIS” is the world’s most successful television franchise. It is estimated that, in the 2022-23 TV season, the franchise had over 300 million viewers around the world across all platforms, including broadcast, cable, streaming and syndication (according to Nielsen and internal data). In spring “2024,” NCIS will celebrate its thousandth episode across the franchise.