'NCIS' Spin-Off Planned for Next Year: Mark Harmon to Executive Produce
While the public waits for the season premiere of "NCIS," which airs tonight, Mark Harmon and CBS are already working on a spin-off series to be set in New Orleans. It will begin filming in February and could air later next year.
"New Orleans, with its rich setting of music, fun and debauchery is a magnet for military personnel on leave," the description reads. "And with fun, comes trouble. It is a natural backdrop for a unique character-driven spin-off."
This would be the second spin-off of the popular CBS series, which debuted in 2003. "NCIS: Los Angeles" debuted in 2009 and has been renewed for a fifth season; "NCIS" was itself a spin-off of the former series, "JAG." It has enjoyed great success and built a steady, loyal audience. The majority of the original cast is still with the series, though one key player decided to leave this season.
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Cote de Pablo, who has played Ziva David for the past seven seasons, will say her good-bye in two episodes, the first of which premieres tonight. Fans and CBS executives were stunned that de Pablo chose to leave, but her friends and co-stars rallied to offer their support and love.
Mark Harmon, one of the executive producers, and star of the series, spoke out recently to encourage fans to stick with the show and to seemingly rally the cast and crew to keep up the good work.
"We've had a lot of changes," Harmon said while appearing on "The Arsenio Hall Show," "and we've managed to get better with the changes both in front of the camera and behind the camera. We have another change this year, with Cote leaving and it's up to this highly professional group to use that as a springboard, to improve and stay No. 1 (in total viewers)."
"NCIS" season 11 premieres tonight on CBS at 8:00 p.m. EST.
