Summary

• The NCIS franchise leaves the door open for Mark Harmon's Gibbs to return, with the potential for flash-forward storylines and special reunions.
• NCIS: Origins will explore Gibbs' early years with Harmon narrating, but his on-screen return remains uncertain.
• Gibbs' absence allows for creative storytelling opportunities, like backdoor pilots and crossovers to bring back the beloved character.

A CBS executive gets candid about the possibility of Mark Harmon appearing onscreen again as Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the evolving Gibbs retired in NCIS season 19, he remains a fan-favorite, hence why conversations regarding whether he might come back have never really died down.

In the middle of NCIS' continued expansion, which includes two forthcoming spinoffs, CBS’ Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach comments on the possibility of Harmon's return in a new interview with Deadline. One of the projects is spearheaded by the actor; NCIS: Origins will tackle Gibbs' early years at Camp Pendleton. While young Gibbs has been recast as Austin Stowell, Harmon will provide the narration, but there's no word on whether he'll appear in person. Read Reisenbach's full comment below:

The door for Mark is always open, it’s really up to him. In of flash-forwards, I don’t think it’s something we’ve talked about, that doesn’t feel like the DNA of that show to me, at least right now. But you never know, when we’re in Season 10, we’re taking creative risks and having fun. So if that’s something Gina and David wanted to tackle down the road, we’d be open to it.

Where Mark Harmon's Leroy Jethro Gibbs May Appear In The NCIS Universe

The way Gibbs was written out of NCIS not only fits with the character's arc, but also allows the show to easily re-incorporate him into the universe at any point. Ducky's tribute episode in season 21 felt like the perfect opportunity to bring back the character, considering his longtime friendship with the former medical examiner-turned-historian. That being said, Gibbs' absence turned out to be a blessing in disguise, since the outing only left a couple of minutes for a big cameo, which ended up being Michael Weatherly's Tony DiNozzo.

Moving forward, there are a few ways that NCIS can bring Gibbs back after spending the last couple of years in Alaska. The first is through a backdoor pilot for NCIS: Origins. One of the perks of the franchise's interconnected storytelling is being able to do crossover episodes. The mothership series is no stranger to being a launching pad for its spinoffs. Gibbs coming back to his old office for a case that eventually prompts him to start ruminating about his early years at NCIS would be the perfect way to do it.

Another option is a special reunion for Gibbs, Tony, and Cote de Pablo's Ziva. While both former Special Agents have returned to the show since their respective departures, they still haven't shared the screen again with their former leader and quasi-father. Seeing the three of them together again would be a big treat for longtime viewers. This reunion of sorts would also be a great jumping point for the three ex-NCIS cast before they go on their respective spinoffs.

NCIS season 21 airs new episodes Mondays at 9pm ET on CBS.

Source: Deadline