{"id":40368,"date":"2026-08-12T07:59:21","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T02:59:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=40368"},"modified":"2026-08-12T07:59:21","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T02:59:21","slug":"origins-star-explains-why-he-almost-turned-down-playing-young-gibbs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=40368","title":{"rendered":"Origins Star Explains Why He Almost Turned Down Playing Young Gibbs"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/db\/tv-show\/ncis-origins-2024\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong><em>NCIS: Origins<\/em><\/strong><\/a> star Austin Stowell nearly passed on playing the young Leroy Jethro Gibbs.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<p>In 2024, three years after <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/ncis-show-gibbs-mark-harmon-exit-explained-fate\/\" target=\"_blank\">Mark Harmon made his final appearance as Gibbs on <em>NCIS<\/em><\/a>, Stowell debuted as the younger take on the character on <em>NCIS: Origins<\/em>. Sean Harmon, Mark\u2019s son, had previously played Gibbs during his time as a Marine, and this prequel series follows him during his first years working at NCIS, originally called NIS. However, Stowell initially wasn\u2019t interested in playing Gibbs in <em>Origins<\/em> because of an aversion to network television.<\/p>\n<p>While appearing on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=cScq4g-SWvc\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Partners &amp; Probies<\/em><\/a>, Stowell recalled to hosts Brian Dietzen and Diona Reasonover how he received the script for <em>NCIS: Origins<\/em>\u2019 pilot in an email after the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike ended in 2023, but deleted it. That\u2019s because he\u2019d <em>\u201ckept saying no for years and years to network TV,\u201d<\/em> both because he <em>\u201cwanted to do films\u201d<\/em> and was concerned that he might not get along with one of his co-stars on a show he might be locked into for years. Stowell continued:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>So I was afraid more than anything, and [NCIS: Origins creators] David North and Gina Monreal were insistent on meeting with me, talking to me. And so we got on a call, and they convinced me in that call. As I heard them talk about Gibbs, I realized how right I was for it, and how right I was for it at that moment in my life.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Prior to <em>NCIS: Origins<\/em>, Stowell\u2019s credits included movies like <em>Whiplash<\/em>, <em>Bridge of Spies<\/em>, <em>Battle of the Sexes<\/em>, and <em>12 Strong<\/em>, and TV shows like <em>The Secret Life of the American Teenager<\/em>, <em>Catch-22<\/em>, <em>Keep Breathing<\/em>, and <em>Three Women<\/em>. With <em>Origins<\/em>, he overcame the <em>\u201cself awareness\u201d<\/em> that had been steering him away from network TV after being persuaded by North and Monreal. Now he\u2019s the lead of a show that\u2019s part of one of the most popular procedural franchises, following his previous guest spot in an early episode of <em>NCIS: Los Angeles<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/ncis-origins-cbs-cast-characters\/\" target=\"_blank\">Stowell\u2019s cast-mates on <em>NCIS: Origins<\/em><\/a> include Kyle Schmid as Mike Franks, Mariel Molino as Lala Dominguez, Caleb Foote as Bernard \u201cRandy\u201d Randolf, Tyla Abercrumbie as Mary Jo Hayes, and Diany Rodriguez as Vera Strickland. Along with executive producing the series with his son, Harmon narrates <em>Origins<\/em> as the older Gibbs. He additionally made on-camera appearances as the character in the pilot and the season 2 episode \u201cFunny How Time Slips Away.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>NCIS: Origins<\/em> season 2 concluded on May 6, while season 3 had already been renewed in January. Along with <em>NCIS: Los Angeles<\/em> star Eric Christian Olsen joining as an executive producer following Monreal\u2019s exit, <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/mark-harmon-gibbs-ncis-origins-season-3-return-confirmed\/\" target=\"_blank\">Harmon will reprise Gibbs in an active role<\/a> in every episode this upcoming season. However, <em>Origins<\/em> season 3 will only comprise 10 episodes, with <em>NCIS: Sydney<\/em> season 4 taking over its new timeslot during the 2027-2028 midseason period.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/ncis-origins-season-3-explained\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong><em>NCIS: Origins<\/em><\/strong> season 3<\/a> premieres Tuesday, October 6 at 10 p.m. ET on CBS, after <em>NCIS<\/em> and the latest spinoff, <em>NCIS: New York<\/em>. The entirety of the <em>NCIS<\/em> franchise can be streamed on Paramount+.<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-card type-screen large\" data-show-streamrentbuy-links=\"true\" data-include-community-rating=\"true\" id=\"a1e1-4ed4-9a6f017e54eb\">\n<div class=\"display-card-main-content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"display-card-main-content\">\n<div class=\"display-card-content image-column\">\n<p>                        <!--    Rating block community and brand ratings --><br \/>\n                        <!--  Image --><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-img  has-image-group\" data-stnl=\"%7B%22category%22%3A%22Click%20Interactions%22%2C%22name%22%3A%22Tag%20Display%20Card%22%2C%22action%22%3A%22Fullscreen%20Image%20Load%22%2C%22once%22%3Atrue%7D\" data-stnl-group-once=\"BOsABlGJON\">\n<div class=\"body-img portrait \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  img-article-square\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/03214871_poster_w780.jpg\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"&quot;&quot;\">\n                                                                                                                                                            <picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/03214871_poster_w780.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=300&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/03214871_poster_w780.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=300&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/03214871_poster_w780.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=400&amp;dpr=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/03214871_poster_w780.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=400&amp;dpr=1\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 1023px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/03214871_poster_w780.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=320&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/03214871_poster_w780.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=320&amp;dpr=2\"\/><img width=\"480\" height=\"720\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"03214871_poster_w780.jpg\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/03214871_poster_w780.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=480&amp;dpr=1\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/03214871_poster_w780.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=480&amp;dpr=1\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                        <!-- User Rating widget --><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"display-card-content info-column\">\n                                                                                                                            <!--  Display card tags widget --><\/p>\n<p>                                                <!--  Display card community and brand rating widget --><br \/>\n                                                                <!--  Display card main info widget --><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-info main-info\">\n<dl>\n<p><dt>\n                                            <strong>Release Date<\/strong>\n                                        <\/dt>\n<dd>\n                                            <span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOctober 14, 2024<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n                                        <\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<p><dt>\n                                            <strong>Directors<\/strong>\n                                        <\/dt>\n<dd>\n                                            <span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNiels Arden Oplev, John Terlesky, Diana Valentine, Edward Ornelas, Hanelle M. Culpepper, Lionel Coleman, Loren Yaconelli, Pete Chatmon, Pamela Romanowsky, Ruben Garcia, Jessica Lowrey<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/span>\n                                        <\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<\/dl><\/div>\n<p>                                        <!--  Display card main info widget end --><\/p>\n<p>                    <!--  Display card media widget start --><\/p>\n<p>                                        <!--  Display card media widget end --><\/p>\n<p>                    <!-- Cast widget start --><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-cast\">\n<ul class=\"cast-tab-list\">\n<li class=\"cast-tab full-width\">\n                                                                                <img width=\"100\" height=\"130\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Headhsot of Austin Stowell\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/instar53702007.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=50&amp;h=65&amp;dpr=2\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/instar53702007.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=50&amp;h=65&amp;dpr=2\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-cast-info flex\">\n<p>Austin Stowell<\/p>\n<p>\n                                                    Leroy Jethro Gibbs\n                                                <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"cast-tab full-width\">\n                                                                                <img width=\"100\" height=\"130\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Headshot Of Kyle Schmid\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/instar53702003.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=50&amp;h=65&amp;dpr=2\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/instar53702003.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=50&amp;h=65&amp;dpr=2\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-cast-info flex\">\n<p>Kyle Schmid<\/p>\n<p>\n                                                    Special Agent Mike Franks\n                                                <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<p>                                        <!-- Cast widget end --><\/p>\n<p>                    <!-- Where to watch button preview --><\/p>\n<p>                    <!-- Where to watch preview end --><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <!-- Extra content section, display hidden by default --><br \/>\n            <input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"extra-content-a1e1-4ed4-9a6f017e54eb\" name=\"extra-content-a1e1-4ed4-9a6f017e54eb\" class=\"expand-extra-info-checkbox css-menu-checkbox\"\/> <!-- Checkbox: control the expandable behavior  of the extra info --><\/p>\n<p>            <!-- Display card footer --><\/p>\n<p>            <!-- PROS and CONS section --><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NCIS: Origins star Austin Stowell nearly passed on playing the young Leroy Jethro Gibbs. In 2024, three years after Mark Harmon made his final appearance as Gibbs on NCIS, Stowell debuted as the younger take on the character on NCIS: Origins. Sean Harmon, Mark\u2019s son, had previously played Gibbs during his time as a Marine,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":40369,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/austin-stowell-as-gibbs-on-ncis-origins-1.jpg?w=1600&h=900&fit=crop","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40368","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsweek-trending"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40368","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=40368"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40368\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/40369"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=40368"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=40368"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=40368"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}