The second season of NCIS Origins is officially coming back. CBS announced the renewal in February 2025, and filming began in July this year. Fans are looking forward to learning more about Gibbs’s early years, Lala’s fate, and other backstory in the new season.
There are new twists and emotional turns, and the whole cast is back. Season 2 of NCIS Origins starts on CBS on October 14, 2025, at 9/8c.
Will There Be a Second Season of NCIS: Origins?
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CBS Has Officially Renewed the Series
CBS officially picked up NCIS Origins for a second season in February 2025, before the end of Season 1. It was confirmed early on that the prequel series would continue to look into the life of Leroy Jethro Gibbs when he first joined the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
- Renewal Timing: Confirmed in February 2025, before the April 28 finale.
- CBS Commitment: Renewal shows that people are optimistic about the show’s future.
- Creative Team: Returning are showrunners David J. North and Gina Lucita Monreal.
- Franchise Growth: Continues the success of the main NCIS series.
Season 2 Is Already in Production
Beginning in July 2025, work on the second season began. Early sightings of cast and crew confirm that cameras are rolling at the Paramount lot where the premiere of the Origins series was filmed.
- Filming Location: Origins filmed at Paramount Studios.
- On-Set Spotted: Mariel Molino and Kyle Schmid seen filming.
- Social Media Teasers: Shared by cast through Instagram Stories.
- Major Lala Update: In the new season, Mariel Molino returns, but Lala’s fate is still unknown.
What Can Fans Expect from NCIS: Origins Season 2?
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Gibbs’ Emotional Evolution and Career Path Deepens
The emotional effects of Gibbs’ choice to kill Pedro Hernandez, the man who killed his family, are looked at in this season. As Austin Stowell’s Gibbs moves through grief, vengeance, and guilt, his leadership style starts to emerge.
- Revenge Fallout: Looks at Gibbs’ inner conflict after avenging Shannon and Kelly.
- Career Development: Tracks his rise within NCIS.
- Mentorship: Guidance from Mike Franks continues to shape him.
- Character Foundation: It reveals how the man from the first NCIS series was shaped by early trauma.
Diane and Lala Add Complicated Personal Layers
In Season 2, two women will have a big impact on Gibbs, Diane Sterling, who will become his wife, and Lala Dominguez, whose accident in Season 1 scared fans.
- Diane’s Introduction: Now has a big part after first showing up at the end of Season 1.
- Relationship Arc: The start of their romantic history is set to unfold.
- Lala Crashed: Her car accident was a Season 1 cliffhanger.
- Unclear Outcome: Still unknown if Lala survived or Lala died but both options will affect Gibbs deeply.
Who Is Returning in the NCIS: Origins Season 2 Cast?
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Returning Characters Likely to Appear
Many of the cast members from Season 1 have confirmed or are expected to return for Season 2 of NCIS: Origins, continuing the storylines of their characters.
- Austin Stowell as Leroy Jethro Gibbs
- Kyle Schmid as Mike Franks, Gibbs’ mentor
- Tyla Abercrumbie as Mary Jo Hayes
- Diany Rodriguez as Vera Strickland
- Caleb Foote as Bernard “Randy” Randolf
- Mariel Molino as Lala Dominguez, though Lala Dominguez’s fate is still up in the air
- Kathleen Kenny as Diane Sterling, future Mrs. Gibbs
Possible New or Crossover Characters
There may be more connections between Season 2 and the rest of the NCIS universe through new characters or younger versions of well-known names.
- Dwayne Pride: May be introduced, connecting to NCIS: New Orleans.
- Flashback Characters: Potential to meet younger versions of NCIS legends.
- Mark Harmon: Continues as narrator and executive producer.
- Spinoff Links: Greater franchise tie-ins possible through canon moments.
When Does NCIS: Origins Season 2 Come Out?
Image © 2024 Ceci Bear Productions / J. birdWings Productions / CBS Studios
Official Premiere Date Announced for Fall 2025
The second season of NCIS: Origins will start on CBS on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at 9/8c. It will air between NCIS Season 23 and Season 3 of NCIS: Sydney, making a full franchise block.
- CBS October Slot: Part of the network’s Fall 2025 lineup.
- Time Positioning: Between the seasons of NCIS and Sydney.
- Network Strategy: Mirrors the success formula of the original NCIS series.
- All-NCIS Night: Viewers get three NCIS shows back-to-back.
Social Media Sparked Fan Excitement
The release date was first announced on CBS’ Instagram Stories. Then, cast members like Austin Stowell shared personal teasers and behind-the-scenes clips.
- Instagram Buzz: “Tuesdays, we’re coming home” launched the hype.
- Austin’s Reveal: Posted a transformation countdown — “Gibbs is back.”
- Visual Tease: Hair and wardrobe updates confirmed character return.
- Fan Response: Overwhelming excitement for the continuation of the origin story.
Where Is NCIS: Origins Filmed?
Image © 2024 Ceci Bear Productions / J. birdWings Productions / CBS Studios
Camp Pendleton Is the Show’s Fictional Setting
The show was not filmed at Camp Pendleton, which is a real U.S. Marine Corps base in San Diego County, California, but it is where NCIS: Origins takes place. Instead, the base was rebuilt in a different place that was easier for the producers to control.
- Fictional Setting: The series takes place at Camp Pendleton in the early 1990s.
- Marine Corps Base: Camp Pendleton is a real base north of San Diego.
- Historical Connection: The show talks about Gibbs’ time as a Marine sniper and an early NCIS agent.
- Real Base, Fictional Filming: Camp Pendleton itself was not used for main filming.
Where Filming Took Place
Most of the filming for NCIS: Origins took place in San Pedro, Santa Clarita, and other cities in Southern California that stood in for Washington, D.C. and other places connected to Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ past.
- Fort MacArthur: This old military base in San Pedro, California, was used to film scenes from Camp Pendleton.
- Santa Clarita Studios: Indoor scenes and Gibbs’ early NCIS offices were filmed here. This is also home to the flagship NCIS series.
- Valencia & Piru: Streets in nearby towns used to look like those in D.C. and Gibbs’ hometown, Stillwater, Pennsylvania.
- On-Location Shoots: Outdoor scenes shot near naval bases and piers for realism.
- Filming Trivia: Fort MacArthur has also appeared in shows like Dexter, Se7en, and Fight Club.
Final Thoughts
Fans of NCIS: Origins can go into Season 2 to learn more about Leroy Jethro Gibbs’s early years. Each mission shows us something about who he becomes. Fans will learn more about Mariel Molino’s character, the little girl, and the secrets she told Gibbs a long time ago through flashbacks, different visions, or hints left by Lara Macy.
Check out these mysteries when the new episodes come out!
FAQs
Will Gibbs appear in NCIS: Origins?
Yes, told Gibbs returns through flashbacks, dialogue, and various visions.
Does Mark Harmon appear in NCIS: Origins?
Yes, Mark Harmon narrates and oversees new episodes as executive producer.
Will Fornell be in NCIS: Origins?
Whether he shows up or not, Lara Macy and others from Gibbs’ past still drive the story.
Is McGee leaving NCIS?
Not confirmed, but Mariel Molino’s character could take more focus if he does.
Who plays Mike Franks in the NCIS prequel series?
In NCIS Origins, Kyle Schmid plays Mike Franks during Gibbs’ early career.