‘NCIS: Hawaii’: Everything We Know About the New Spin-Off
Some big things appear to be happening in the NCIS universe. CBS is reportedly looking to expand the popular franchise, and another spinoff seems to be in the works. The new series is in the early stages of development.
Insiders say they will be ditching the mainland and heading to America’s 50th state. Here is everything we know about the new spinoff NCIS: Hawaii.
CBS has canceled one ‘NCIS’ spinoff while developing another
According to The Hollywood Reporter, CBS is close to a straight-to-series order for NCIS: Hawaii. The network has not commented because they are still making deals with potential cast and crew. However, insiders say that Chris Silber, the showrunner of NCIS: New Orleans, will be taking over the new spinoff.
Silber is available because the network has officially canceled NCIS: New Orleans after seven seasons. The show will air its final episode in May 2021.
Created by the late Gary Glasberg, NCIS: New Orleans stars Scott Bakula and focuses on the local field office that investigates criminal cases involving military personnel in the Big Easy.
“Sad to end our love affair with this phenomenal city but so grateful for all the friends we made along the way,” Bakula said. “I will miss the music. Big thank you to CBS for seven years.”
The new spinoff will be filmed on location in Hawaii
Just like they’ve done with NCIS: New Orleans, CBS will reportedly shoot the new spinoff on location. NCIS: Hawaii is currently staffing their writers room and they are also interviewing possible pilot directors. In addition to Silber, SEAL Team’s Matt Bosack will also be an executive producer on the new drama.
NCIS: Hawaii will be the fourth series in the franchise, following the flagship series starring Mark Harmon, NCIS: Los Angeles, and NCIS: New Orleans.
Fans may not know that there was another attempted spinoff titled NCIS: Red.
The network attempted to launch the series via a backdoor pilot, and it would have focused on a mobile anti-terrorist unit known as the Red Team. It would have starred John Corbett, Kim Raver, Scott Grimes, Edwin Hodge, and Gillian Alexy. However, according to TV Line, the series never made it past the backdoor pilot stage.
Is it possible the parent series of ‘NCIS’ will get a revival?
NCIS is the most-watched television series on the planet. The procedural draws an average of 15 million viewers each week in America. It’s also seen in over 200 countries across the globe.
The flagship series actually began as a backdoor pilot in the series JAG back in 2003. That was the first time fans met Harmon’s Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Michael Weatherly’s DiNozzo, David McCallum’s “Ducky” Mallard, and Pauley Perette’s Abby Sciuto.
In 2019, JAG stars David James Elliott and Catherine Bell reprised their roles of Navy Captain “Harm” Rabb Jr. and Lieutenant Colonel Sarah “Mac” MacKenzie on NCIS: Los Angeles. This sparked rumors that a JAG revival was in the works, and showrunner R. Scott Gemmill didn’t deny it at the time.
“I never say never to anything. It’s really up to [CBS]. That’s not my call to make,” Gemmill said.
Is Mark Harmon leaving ‘NCIS’ after season 18?
In addition to all of the spinoff rumors, there’s also the possibility that the flagship series could be done after season 18. Insiders claim that Harmon is ready to leave when the current season ends. But, when he discovered that CBS would likely cancel the series without him, he started discussing the possibility of making a series of cameos during season 19.
NCIS is one of the longest-running primetime scripted series that is currently airing on broadcast TV. It doesn’t seem likely that CBS would be willing to cancel the series since it has so many viewers and is their most valuable IP. But without Harmon, it’s possible the show could be coming to an end soon.
NCIS airs Tuesday nights on CBS.
