The NCIS franchise will be marking its 1,000th episode later this year, with story details and an airdate for the upcoming milestone now revealed.

New details have emerged for the upcoming 1,000th episode of the NCIS franchise, including what to expect from its story and when the episode will air. The procedural franchise has had produced four spinoffs as of writing, NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: New Orleans, which have ended, along with NCIS: Sydney and NCIS: Hawai’i, which are ongoing. Between all five series, the franchise is about to reach 1,000 episodes overall.

Speaking with TVLine, co-showrunners Steven D. Binder and David North have revealed details about the 1,000th episode in the franchise, which will air as episode 7 of NCIS season 21. The showrunners revealed the episode, airing on Monday, April 15, would center around Director Leon Vance, and feature references to both the franchise’s past and its other shows. Check out what Binder and North had to say below:

North: One of our own beloved characters is going to end up in grave danger, and you’re go to see all of the different franchises brought into this in a little bit of a different way.

Binder: There’ll be a personal storyline, and this one will circle around Director [Leon] Vance.

North: We’re going to play plenty of homage to the past.

Binder: We’re hoping to put some Easter eggs for longtime fans of the show…. If you’re watching it in 4K, you might have to blow some things up. But they’re going to be there.

How Will NCIS’ 1,000th Episode Tie The Franchise Together?

NCIS is no stranger to characters crossing over between shows, something that establishes all the series are happening in the same universe. The latest example is LL Cool J reprising his role as Sam Hanna from Los Angeles in NCIS: Hawai’i season 3. However, series in the franchise have been having crossovers since 2009, showing just how deeply connected the franchise has always been.

Based on Binder and North’s comments, it seems every series in the franchise will be referenced at some point during the special episode. This could include characters from shows both ended and ongoing being present, arriving for quick cameos or as part of the overall story. It’s possible that whatever threat Vance is facing, it will cause the whole franchise to come together in a unqiue, interesting way.

The episode could also inform the future of the franchise as well, perhaps teasing the upcoming Gibbs prequel NCIS: Origins. While there’s no telling what the new threat being faced in NCIS‘ 1,000th episode will be, it seems there will be plenty of danger in store as the franchise’s longevity is honored. Since the series is still going strong in season 21, there’s no telling when the series will be over.