Mark Harmon is not a part of the NCIS cast, at least not on the screen anymore. He is still the voice of NCIS: Origins, as he is the narrator for the prequel series that shows how his character, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, got his start with NCIS. However, Austin Stowell is now playing the younger version of the character.
Harmon is still a big part of the franchise and has a large say over what happens in the television series he helped turn into a juggernaut. Here is what you need to know.
Mark Harmon Still Has Control over NCIS Franchise
NCIS: Origins is the new franchise series that shows how Gibbs got his start with the law enforcement organization. However, since this is a prequel series, Mark Harmon is not starring as the character. Instead, he is narrating the episodes and setting up each individual storyline.
With that said, Harmon is still playing a very important role behind the scenes. One source says that Mark’s behavior behind the scenes is bothering some members of the cast and crew (via Closer Weekly).
“For someone who said three years ago he was retiring, Mark’s still very immersed in the franchise and must have a say in everything from casting to plot lines,” the source said. “He’s still an executive producer and he’s stretching it as far as he can. He can’t help himself!”
They went on to say that he has strong “opinions” that he is sharing with the cast. He also isn’t afraid to dish out his thoughts on how the cast and crew are doing on the new show. The source said there are some people who appreciate his input. However, there are others who wish he would back off a little and let them come into their own on the show.
Interestingly, it was Mark Harmon himself who called Austin Stowell to tell him he got the job playing Gibbs on NCIS: Origins.
Mark Harmon Narrating NCIS: Origins
Mark Harmon had a cameo appearance on the NCIS: Origins premiere and he is the narrator of the new series. This is a nice way to keep him involved. It is also a nice way to ensure that older fans can still at least hear his voice weekly on the show after leaving the main series a few seasons ago.
One person who doesn’t mind Mark Harmon’s input is Austin, who is receiving praise for his portrayal of the character Mark made famous. “Mark was very complimentary,” Austin said. “He said, ‘It’s been you from the second you walked in the room.’”
Do you miss seeing Mark Harmon on NCIS? Is it nice to see him still having control in the franchise he helped lead for two decades? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.