President of CBS Entertainment, Amy Reisenbach, promises that the Gibbs prequel is “edgier and grittier” than other NCIS installments.

Leroy Jethro Gibbs will return in NCIS: Origins. The President of CBS Entertainment, Amy Reisenbach, announced the prequel series back in January, and she also revealed that Mark Harmon will be reprising the role of Gibbs as the show’s narrator. And in a brand-new interview, Reisenbach promises an “edgier and grittier” installment of the NCIS universe. Reisenbach said (per Deadline):

“I think it’s been wonderful to have these franchise extensions. They’re each its own unique property. NCIS: Origins is really different than any of the other NCIS‘ [shows]; it makes me feel so old to say it’s period when it’s set in the ’90s. Kill me now, right? It’s a little edgier and grittier than previous NCIS‘ [series].”

Reisenbach added:

“It’s got a serialized element of it that we’re really excited about. And whereas I would say NCIS: Sydney too really had its own identity, it was very uniquely Australian and told stories that can only be told in Australia, so I feel like they’re both opportunities to gain new audiences while also being true to the DNA and loyal fan base of those shows.”

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Mark Harmon not only reprises the role of Gibbs in NCIS: Origins, as the narrator, but it was Harmon and his son, Sean, who pitched the idea of a prequel series to CBS. And the President of CBS Studios, David Stapf, couldn’t be more excited to explore Gibbs’ younger days in the 1990s. Stapf said:

“There’s no denying the cultural and global phenomenon of the NCIS franchise for the last 20 years. When Sean and Mark approached us all with this exciting expansion of the universe – exploring a young Gibbs – we knew it was the next story that needed to be told. We also couldn’t be luckier to have Gina and David at the helm as co-showrunners who are not only brilliant and adept writers, but know this character and universe so well.”