Will NCIS: Sydney be calling up Alex O’Loughlin in the future?
With NCIS: Sydney quickly approaching, the venerable series will have access to an entirely new universe. In celebration of the show’s first overseas offshoot, NCIS, CBS aired Sydney advertising upside down to pique viewers’ attention. Even though the primary cast of NCIS: Sydney is complete, more actors could yet be added, especially in the guest star department. Could that possibly apply to Australian lead Alex O’Loughlin of Hawaii Five-0?
In 2011, NCIS: Los Angeles’ Daniela Ruah appeared on Hawaii Five-0 to reprise NCIS Special Agent Kensi Blye, and this brought the Hawaii-set series into the NCIS franchise. Even more, the two shows had a two-part crossover event the following year. Although Hawaii Five-0 ended three years ago, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the end for the show’s characters.
Creator Morgan O’Neill told TVLine there’s always a possibility they could be brought back:
Look, we haven’t written off the possibility of him popping up. Alex is a fantastic actor, as you would well know. . . . I don’t know what it is in the water down here, but Australians have a tendency to kind of bat a bit out of our weight category when it comes to producing actors and creative people. So, I’m pretty sure Alex will pop up somewhere. He’s a fantastic actor and a good guy.
To note though, O’Loughlin’s last acting credit was Hawaii Five-0, with nothing new planned yet. It’s been three years since fans last saw the actor on their screens. He was pretty steady with the acting since 2003 and starred on all 10 se asons of the CBS procedural, so it’s not surprising that he would want to take a bit of a break. However, his return to television is definitely long overdue. A show filming in his home country and returning to CBS would surely be icing on the cake. Bring on the crossover!
Steve McGarrett might not show up on NCIS: Sydney, even if Alex O’Loughlin does in the end. Instead, the actor may play a whole different character—this has been done previously. Consider Katrina Law as an example. Instead of Quinn Liu, O’Loughlin’s former co-star from Hawaii Five-0 now plays Jessica Knight on the hit show NCIS. Regardless of the role he plays, it would be great to see him on NCIS: Sydney. Although it doesn’t appear like it will happen anytime soon, there may be more opportunities if the show is renewed for a second season.
NCIS: Sydney, on the other hand, continues to make references to the other NCIS programs despite its Australian setting. Prior until now, Morgan O’Neill hinted that there would be Easter Eggs, but he certainly wouldn’t say what or how. Given the size of NCIS, it’s possible that some of the fans’ favorite agents have been encountered by or at least heard about by the American agents stationed in Sydney. Sydney might potentially participate in some crossover programming if NCIS and NCIS: Hawaii return after the SAG-AFTRA strike ends.
Fans will have to tune in to NCIS: Sydney on the 2023 TV schedule to see what happens in this franchise’s new series and hope that familiar faces will show up on Sydney sooner or later. The drama will officially premiere on CBS on Tuesday, November 14 at 8 p.m.