‘NCIS: Origins’ Returning for Season 3 With Big Change: How Many Episodes Will It Be?

Gibbs (Mark Harmon) was a man of few words on the mothership for 19 seasons. But with NCIS: Origins, we’re getting to see parts of his life we either barely heard about or never knew existed. And the good news is we’ll get to learn a lot more, with the series returning for Season 3 in the fall of 2026. However, there will be a couple major changes when it does.

NCIS: Origins Season 3 will reportedly be 10 episodes, according to Deadline on May 1. (Seasons 1 and 2 were both 18 episodes.) This news comes four days before the Season 2 finale, on May 5.

Furthermore, there will only be one showrunner instead of the two, Gina Lucita Monreal and David J. North, who have been since its origins. Monreal is exiting after Season 2 “to focus new projects,” according to Deadline on January 28 (just six days after the renewal news).

“It’s been the biggest honor of my career to write NCIS: Origins alongside my incredible co-showrunner and friend David North,” Monreal said in a statement via the outlet. “I want to thank Amy Reisenbach, David Stapf, and everyone at CBS Network and Studio for their support. To have had this opportunity to work again with the incomparable Mark Harmon, Sean Harmon, our writers, and the best cast and crew in the business — how lucky am I? I can’t wait to see what this extraordinary group cooks up for Season 3.”

Added North, “Long before Gina was my incredible writing partner on NCIS: Origins, she was, and remains, one of my closest friends. I couldn’t have imagined launching this show with anyone else, and even though Gina won’t be working with us on a daily basis next season, the characters and stories she helped create will live on. I can’t wait to team up with her again in the future.”

Below, we take a look at everything we know so far about NCIS: Origins Season 3, from the cast to a premiere date and more.

Is NCIS: Origins renewed for Season 3?

Yes! CBS renewed NCIS: Origins for Season 3 on Thursday, January 22. It is one of 16 shows already on its schedule for next season.

When will NCIS: Origins Season 3 premiere?

The NCIS prequel will remain a fall show, airing Tuesdays at 10/9c, with new spinoff NCIS: New York taking over its 9/8c slot after the mothership kicks off the night. An exact premiere date hasn’t been revealed, but it should be either late September or early October.

Who’s in the NCIS: Origins Season 3 cast?

NCIS: Origins Season 2 stars Austin Stowell (Leroy Jethro Gibbs), Mariel Molino (Lala Dominguez), Kyle Schmid (Mike Franks), Tyla Abercrumbie (Mary Jo Hayes), Diany Rodriguez (Vera Strickland), and Caleb Foote (Bernard “Randy” Randolf). We’ll have to wait to see if they all stick around for Season 3.

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What’s NCIS: Origins about?

The NCIS prequel follows Gibbs’ early days at NIS, working for Mike Franks and alongside his team. As the show tracks them tackling cases, it also delves into their personal lives.

We also know that the agency’s name change is coming — the series started in 1991 and that happens in December 1992 — so that is going to be part of the show at some point.

“We intend to stick with canon, and also we know that the name change is coming and it’s going be part of our story,” executive producer David J. North told TV Insider in October 2025.

What are the statuses of the other NCIS shows?

The mothership NCIS and international NCIS: Sydney have both been renewed for their 24th and fourth seasons, respectively. New York will be debuting in the fall 2026 with its first season.

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