NCIS: Origins fans can breathe easy: Season 3 has begun. The hit NCIS prequel airs Tuesdays on CBS following NCIS and NCIS: New York, and streams on Paramount+. Austin Stowell returns as the 1990s-era Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Mark Harmon returns as narrator — and, in the big Season 3 development, appears in every episode as the present-day Gibbs.
To keep you in the know on the latest season, we’ve got all the info you need for each one of Gibbs’ action-packed adventures, including how and where to watch the show, the official cast list, and lots more.
Key facts
- Premiered: Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026
- Network: CBS
- Streaming: Paramount+
- Release cadence: New episodes Tuesdays at 10 PM ET/PT on CBS/Paramount+ (Paramount+ Premium plan); next-day streaming on Paramount+ (all plans)
- Season length: 10 episodes
- Genre: Crime procedural/action drama
- Stars: Austin Stowell, Mark Harmon
- Setting: Early 1990s
NCIS: Origins
Watch NowHow to watch Season 3
New episodes of NCIS: Origins Season 3 air Tuesdays at 10 PM ET/PT on CBS. The series also streams on Paramount+. The Paramount+ Premium plan allows for live streaming of CBS, so you won’t have to wait to catch (both) Gibbs in action. You can stream episodes on demand the day after they air with any Paramount+ plan. Visit the Paramount+ Help Center to learn more about which plan is right for you.
What is Season 3 about?
NCIS: Origins Season 3 introduces parallel timelines: the early ’90s and the present day. Starting with the season opener, “Don’t You Forget About Me,” Mark Harmon returns to his on-screen role as the present-day Leroy Jethro Gibbs. His appearance kicks off a season-long arc for the former NCIS star that connects back to events from his early days at Camp Pendleton in the early ‘90s. The season sees ghosts from Gibbs’s past catch up to him, shattering his peaceful retirement in Alaska. The present-day mystery will continue building the bridge between NCIS: Origins and NCIS, the franchise’s flagship series. Meanwhile, back in 1992, the younger Gibbs (Austin Stowell) and Lala (Mariel Molino) deal with the aftermath of their kiss from the Season 2 finale.
How Season 2 set it up
Warning: Slight spoilers ahead for those you’ve yet to finish Season 2! Following the events of NCIS: Origins Season 2, young Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Austin Stowell) continues his early career with NIS at Camp Pendleton. Season 3 continues exploring Mike Franks’ (Kyle Schmid) mentorship of Gibbs, and follows Gibbs and his team on their early investigations. The season will also explore their relationships inside the office, such as the brewing romance between Gibbs and Lala. Season 3 continues to chart the evolution of Gibbs into the living legend NCIS fans know.
Who’s returning?
Season 3 of NCIS: Origins brings back the core NCIS team while also expanding Mark Harmon’s role in the series as older Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Austin Stowell returns as young Gibbs.
Austin Stowell as young Leroy Jethro Gibbs
In NCIS: Origins Season 3, Austin Stowell reprises his role as the young Leroy Jethro Gibbs. The series continues exploring the formative experiences that shape the legendary NCIS agent fans know from the original series. As Season 3 begins, Gibbs and his colleagues are facing the threatened closure of their Camp Pendleton office, while his romance with Lala Dominguez (Mariel Molino) continues to simmer.
Mark Harmon as older Leroy Jethro Gibbs
Mark Harmon returns in NCIS: Origins Season 3 as both narrator and executive producer. Additionally, Season 3 significantly expands Harmon’s onscreen role, as the present-day Gibbs appears throughout the season as part of a new mystery. This storyline helps connect NCIS: Origins to the larger NCIS universe.
Returning supporting cast
The returning ensemble for NCIS: Origins Season 3 includes:
- Kyle Schmid as Mike Franks
- Mariel Molino as Lala Dominguez
- Tyla Abercrumbie as Mary Jo Hayes
- Diany Rodriguez as Vera Strickland
- Caleb Foote as Randy Randolf
How Season 3 fits into the NCIS universe
NCIS: Origins follows young agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs (played by Austin Stowell) and the NCIS Camp Pendleton team as they tackle cases in the early ‘90s, before Gibbs becomes leader of his own team (those adventures are the focus of the first 19 seasons of NCIS).
Longtime fans can enjoy seeing familiar characters before the flagship series takes place. Season 3 features a present-day storyline starring Mark Harmon (who played Gibbs in NCIS and narrates NCIS: Origins), creating another connection between the prequel and the larger NCIS franchise.
LEARN MORE: All The NCIS Shows You Can Stream On Paramount+
Stream NCIS: Origins on Paramount+
You can stream new episodes of NCIS: Origins Season 3 weekly on Paramount+. All episodes from the first two seasons of NCIS: Origins are available to stream on Paramount+.
Paramount+ is the streaming home for all episodes of NCIS, NCIS: Sydney, and NCIS: New Orleans, as well as the Paramount+ original drama, NCIS: Tony & Ziva, and new series NCIS: New York. For more info, check out our guide to all the NCIS shows you can stream on Paramount+.
FAQ
Is Mark Harmon in Season 3?
Yes, Mark Harmon is in NCIS: Origins Season 3. In addition to narrating the show as Gibbs, Harmon reprises the iconic character onscreen as part of a season-long present-day mystery connecting back to his Camp Pendleton days in the ’90s.
How many episodes are in Season 3?
NCIS: Origins Season 3 will have 10 episodes.
Do I need to watch NCIS before NCIS Origins?
No. You do not need to watch NCIS before watching NCIS: Origins. The prequel works for new viewers. Longtime NCIS fans will appreciate the additional context it brings to the NCIS universe, as well as the numerous references to their favorite show.
