Could LL Cool J’s Sam Hanna Return to NCIS?
Fans of the NCIS universe were thrilled to see Special Agent Sam Hanna, portrayed by LL Cool J, reprise his role in a recent episode of NCIS Season 22. Hanna, a beloved character from the now-concluded NCIS: Los Angeles, left many wondering if this cameo could lead to a more permanent return to the flagship series.
According to TVInsider, NCIS executive producer Steven D. Binder addressed this very question. While Binder offered no definitive confirmation about LL Cool J’s return for the next season, he certainly didn’t rule out the possibility. “But I, as a showrunner, say LL always has a place at NCIS. They all do. They’re all great. They’re pros. We love having them,” Binder stated, expressing the production team’s positive regard for the actor.
The primary hurdle, as Binder explained, appears to be logistical rather than a lack of desire. “It’s just people have very busy schedules, especially he does. So making it work is a logistical challenge and probably the bottleneck more than anything to why you may or may not see more. Not because there’s not a desire and a will, just because scheduling is very difficult.” He drew a parallel with the return of another familiar face, Todd, emphasizing the often lengthy process of aligning schedules.
Sam’s appearance in Season 22, during which his character reminisced about his time at the agency and expressed missing it, did leave the door open for future appearances. Agent Vance, played by Rocky Carroll, even offered a poignant sentiment, stating, “There’s always a place for you back at NCIS.” This moment resonated with viewers who appreciated the update on the character following the end of NCIS: Los Angeles in 2023.
The NCIS franchise has a history of interconnected storylines and character crossovers across its various spinoffs, including NCIS: New Orleans and NCIS: Hawai’i, allowing for fan-favorite characters to reappear. Looking ahead, the NCIS universe continues to expand with the prequel series NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Sydney. Furthermore, alongside NCIS Season 23, which is set to premiere in Fall 2025 on CBS, a highly anticipated new spinoff, NCIS: Tony & Ziva, will debut for streaming on Paramount+ this fall, following the fan-favorite couple played by Michael Weatherly and Cote De Pablo in a 10-episode series.
While the return of LL Cool J’s Sam Hanna to NCIS remains uncertain due to scheduling complexities, the door appears to be open, offering hope to fans eager to see more of the beloved agent within the broader NCIS universe.
