Mark Harmon's departure as Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the NCIS episode "Great Wide Open" featured a pivotal farewell scene written in just 10 minutes. Co-writer David J. North recently revealed the rapid creative process that led to the character's exit in Naktok Bay, Alaska.
The 10-Minute Script for Naktok Bay
The final moments between Leroy Jethro Gibbs and Timothy McGee were not the result of weeks of deliberation, but rather a sudden burst of inspiration. According to the report, co-writer David J. North and writer Brendan Fehily penned the sequence in less than half an hour, with the core river scene taking only 10 minutes. north described a workflow where he paced the room and dictated ideas while Brendan Fehily organized the thoughts and suggested structural changes.
Despite the speed of the writing, the scene remained remarkably intact through production. David J. North noted that he initially told Brendan Fehily to leave the dialogue alone to avoid the "too many cooks in the kitchen" syndrome common in television writing. Ultimately, the scene was shot word-for-word as it was first written, leaving North stunned that the final product was essentially what he had "vomited out" in a matter of minutes.
A Farewell After 19 Seasons of Gibbs
The brevity of the writing process stands in stark contrast to the nearly two decades Mark Harmon spent shaping the role of Leroy Jethro Gibbs. The character first appeared in the JAG episodes "Ice Queen" and "Meltdown," which served as the backdoor pilot for NCIS before the series officially premiered on September 23, 2003. By the time the "Great Wide Open" episode aired in season 19, Mark Harmon had evolved from the lead actor to an executive producer, a role he assumed in season 6.
The emotional weight of the scene relied on a deep history of trauma and healing. In the final minutes of the episode, Leroy Jethro Gibbs explained to Timothy McGee that Naktok Bay provided a sense of peace he had not felt since before the murders of his wife, Shannon, and daughter, Kelly. This narrative closure served as a capstone for a character who had anchored the CBS procedural through the departures of other original cast members like Michael Weatherly and Pauley Perrette.
Mark Harmon's Shift to NCIS: Origins
While Mark Harmon has stepped away from the primary NCIS timeline, he remains a central figure in the expanding franchise through NCIS: Origins. As an executive producer and the narrator for every episode, Mark Harmon continues to guide the legacy of Leroy Jethro Gibbs. While Austin Stowell portrays the younger version of the character in the 1990s setting, Mark Harmon has reprised the role on camera in the pilot and the episode "Funny How Time Slips Away."
The involvement of Mark Harmon is expected to increase in the coming year. He is scheduled to appear in every episode of NCIS: Origins season 3 to facilitate a present-day storyline. This ensures that while the character's main-series arc concluded in Alaska, the actor's influence over the character's mythology remains intact.
The October 6 Premiere and the Mystery of Gibbs' Return
The NCIS universe is currently preparing for a massive expanion on the CBS fall 2026 slate. On October 6, the network will premiere NCIS season 24 at 8 p.m. ET and NCIS: Origins season 3 at 10 p.m. ET. Sandwiched between these two is NCIS: New York, featuring LL Cool J reprising his role as Sam Hanna. As the report says, the franchise continues to grow through these new series and intersecting storylines.
However,a lingering question remains regarding whether Mark Harmon will ever officially return to the flagship series. While he has not appeared since "Great Wide Open," the season 23 episode "Deal with the Devil" strongly implied that Leroy Jethro Gibbs was responsible for the death of the man who murdered Leon Vance. Whether this off-screen action will eventually lead to an on-screen reunion remains unconfirmed, leaving fans to wonder if the Alaska exile is truly permanent.
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