14 Essential Developments in the ‘NCIS’ Universe

The NCIS universe continues to evolve, having celebrated its 1,000th franchise episode in 2024 with significant expansions like NCIS: Origins and the internationally set NCIS: Sydney. Key developments include beloved characters’ spinoffs, such as Tony and Ziva navigating family and danger in Europe, and fresh insights into Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ early career. Real-life connections among stars, like Mark Harmon‘s role behind-the-scenes of Origins or cast members returning for nostalgia-rich episodes, anchor these stories in a sense of continuity and history.

From bittersweet departures like Pauley Perrette’s to new leadership under actors such as Gary Cole, the franchise remains a mix of fresh drama and familiar faces, ensuring its enduring appeal.

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists from Us Weekly.