CBS has announced a significant casting overhaul for its NCIS universe ahead of the Fall 2026 season. the network plans to bring back Scott Caan and Sean Harmon, though both actors will step into entirely new roles rather than reprising their previous characters.
Scott Caan’s transition from Hawaii Five-0 to Nick Schaeffer
Scott Caan will debut as Nick Schaeffer, a brand new character in the NCIS: New York series. As reported by the source, this move links Caan’s recent history in the shared universe to his previous work on Hawaii Five-0, where he played Danny Williams.
In NCIS: New York, Caan will perform alongside LL Cool J, who is returning to the franchise as the established character Sam Hanna. This casting choice is notable because it utilizes the shared cinematic universe to create crossover potential between established series.
Sean Harmon trades the Young Gibbs role for FBI Agent Casey Bloom
Sean Harmon will return to the NCIS franchise for the third season of NCIS: Origins, but he will not be playing the younger version of Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Instead, Harmon will portray Casey Bloom, an FBI agent characterized by a quirky, cocky, and charmingly incompetent persona.
This shift marks a major change from Harmon's previous tenure, which dates back to the 2008 episode "Heartland." While Harmon previously explored the early life of Gibbs, the role of the young agent has since been taken over by Austin Stowell in the 1991-set prequel series. according to the report, this allows Harmon to focus on his duties as an executive producer while exercising more creative flexibility.
The 1991 Camp Pendleton setting of NCIS: Origins
The prequel series NCIS: Origins focuses on a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs navigating his early career at NCIS Camp Pendleton. The show explores the leadership of Mike Franks and the unconventional methods of the team during the early 1990s.
This setting provides a distinct narrative backdrop compared to the modern-day investigations seen in the flagship series or NCIS: New York. By utilizig a period setting, CBS can maintain the franchise's core themes of naval crime investigation while refreshing the ensemble cast.
Will fans embrace the unprecedented scale of these recasts?
The scale of these casting changes raises questions about how the dedicated NCIS fanbase will react to such prominent recasts. While supporting characters often transition between roles, the introduction of major stars like Caan and Harmon in entirely new capacities is a rarity for the brand.
It remains unclear how much the new characters of Nick Schaeffer and Casey Bloom will interact with the existing continuity of the flagship series. Furthermore, the report does not specify if these changes will lead to further departures or if other legacy characters are slated for similar transformations in the Fall 2026 slate.
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