This NCIS: Origins video gave me mixed feelings about the prequel series that will center on young Gibbs. The series will revive the franchise’s central character, but with significant twists. Mark Harmon will not return to the role but will return to narrate and executive produce the series. Instead, Austin Stowell has been cast as Leroy Jethro Gibbs in NCIS: Origins, bringing a new face to the role. The character’s younger self already had an on-screen portrayal in NCIS, with Harmon’s son Sean portraying the future Gunnery Sergeant and Special Agent in Charge.
The franchise was taking a risk recasting Gibbs, but I trust they’re confident in the decision. Mark Harmon’s son, Sean Harmon is an executive producer for the series, so I assume he could have reprised his role if he wanted to. With new actors taking the lead, a significant piece of NCIS history is in their hands. NCIS: Origins’ success relies entirely on their portrayal of the characters meshing with the audience’s idea of whom the characters should be, based on the original. It’s a difficult balance to strike, and I look forward to seeing how the actors will manage.
The Leroy Jethro Gibbs And Mike Franks Actors Emulate The Original Characters
Austin Stowell And Kyle Schmid Will Take Over The Roles
A new casting preview from ET gives a sneak peek of whom the NCIS: Origins characters will be. The video was instantly compelling because those answers were revealed after months of supposing who the actors would be and what they would bring to the characters. Austin Stowell was a worthy Gibbs, even outside playing the character. He was reserved but well-spoken and kind. It’s an excellent example of whom the special agent was at that time in his life. The young Gibbs is reserved in the original series, and his older self is just an evolved version of that.
Stowell is similar enough to the original Gibbs actor Mark Harmon to step into the role and run with it. The same was true, if not more so, of Mike Franks actor Kyle Schmid, who acted just as the original actor, Muse Watson, did in his portrayal of the role. Schmid delivers deadpan comments with an ease and coolness that will lend itself well to the character. These two characters – Gibbs and his mentor – will be central to the series. I’m pleased the NCIS: Origins actors have what it takes to form a character portrayal that is cohesive with expectations.
The Lala Domínguez Actor Implied There Was Freedom In Telling Gibbs’ Story (& That Worries Me)
Gibbs Has A Thorough NCIS History In His Past And Present
A comment from the Lala Domínguez actor worried me, despite Austin Stowell and Kyle Schmid proving that they embody the necessary qualities of their characters. Mariel Molino will portray an agent not from the original NCIS series but is teased to be Gibbs’ love interest. While she doesn’t have a legacy to maintain in her character, she does in representing the NCIS franchise. The actor describes young Gibbs as a character that “you haven’t seen at all,” which worried me. Fans have seen Gibbs before and after his early NIS days and have expectations for the character.
Molino implied that the characters could be portrayed freely, and I agree as long as they honor the NCIS canon.
Everyone in the cast needs to understand the original show, or inaccuracies are bound to occur. With the franchise taking on two new spinoffs that will develop a continuation of the stories of the essential characters, I believe they must stick to NCIS canon, but it’s easier said than done. Watching all of NCIS would take about two weeks if watched non-stop, so the actors have a lot of learning to do about the world their characters come from. Molino implied that the characters could be portrayed freely, and I agree as long as they honor the NCIS canon.
Austin Stowell Calling Himself An NCIS Franchise Fan Has An Exciting Promise
Austin Stowell Understands The Leroy Jethro Gibbs Character
In the video, the young Gibbs actor said something promising. Stowell said: “I started off watching the episodes as research and then became a fan.” If the actor engages with the original material, Stowell should know enough about the Gibbs character to do the portrayal justice. Gibbs is the most essential element of all the character portrayals, so if the actor does his homework, the series will probably be in good hands. The series will survive as long as Gibbs and Franks have the souls of their original characters when they are revived on screen.
While the video gave me mixed feelings, the success of NCIS: Origins ultimately relies on Austin Stowell as young Gibbs. It’s at least reassuring that the lead actor is doing his homework. Mark Harmon also suggested in the video that he has confidence in Stowell’s portrayal of the role, and likened the experience Stowell is having to the one he had over 20 years ago when he began as Gibbs. I love Mark Harmon’s big-picture approach to things, and I assume his vision of the NCIS: Origins character will come to fruition.