CBS has officially greenlit NCIS: New York, a highly anticipated new series that will bring beloved character NCIS Agent Sam Hanna back to television screens, starring LL Cool J in the role he originated. The announcement, made during CBS’s fall 2026 schedule reveal, marks a significant expansion of the NCIS franchise and reunites LL Cool J with Emmy-winning The Pitt creator R. Scott Gemmill. The series is set to debut in the fall of 2026, taking its place on Tuesdays, directly following the flagship NCIS. This move represents a rare instance of a lead actor reprising the same character across multiple spin-offs within the same franchise, a feat previously seen with Christopher Meloni’s Elliot Stabler moving from Law & Order: SVU to Law & Order: Organized Crime.
The development of NCIS: New York has been remarkably swift, with the entire process from initial conversations with LL Cool J to a series greenlight, including a finalized script, a co-lead cast, and a showrunner, taking approximately five months. This rapid turnaround underscores the network’s and CBS Studios’ strong commitment to keeping the character of Sam Hanna on television following the conclusion of NCIS: Los Angeles in May 2023 after a successful 14-season run. The creation of NCIS: New York is the culmination of a multi-year strategic effort by CBS and CBS Studios to leverage their most successful franchises and capitalize on the enduring popularity of their established characters.
A Rapid Ascent: From Concept to Series Greenlight
The genesis of NCIS: New York can be traced back to conversations held last fall, initiated by CBS Studios’ desire to develop a new installment centered around the character of Sam Hanna. The idea of setting the series in Hanna’s hometown of New York City quickly gained traction. LL Cool J, who was instrumental in championing the project, reportedly suggested R. Scott Gemmill as the ideal writer to bring the script to life. Gemmill, currently enjoying critical acclaim as the creator, executive producer, and showrunner of HBO Max’s The Pitt, has a deep history with the NCIS universe, having served as a writer and executive producer on NCIS: Los Angeles for all 14 of its seasons. He ascended to showrunner in 2016, a role he held for the subsequent seven seasons, maintaining a close professional relationship with LL Cool J.
The swiftness of the greenlight process, from conception to series order, is a testament to the strong alignment between key executives at Paramount, including George Cheeks, Chair of TV Media, and CBS, and CBS Studios. Amy Reisenbach, President of CBS Entertainment, and David Stapf, President of CBS Studios, were reportedly fully supportive of the initiative. Gemmill was approached with the concept just before the Christmas holiday break. He described the invitation to develop NCIS: New York as an immediate affirmation, stating, "They came to me and said that they were thinking about doing an NCIS: New York with Todd [LL Cool J’s real middle name], and I said, I’m in. That’s all it takes." Gemmill’s enthusiastic acceptance was fueled by the personal connection to the character’s return to his roots and the inherent appeal of New York City as a vibrant setting. He further elaborated, "Todd’s from New York, so it was great. And it’s as if his character is going back home, as if Todd himself is going back home. New York is the burning center of the universe, so I was just excited and happy to be asked to be a part of it. And I jumped at the chance."
Assembling the Core Team: Stars and Showrunner
The casting process for NCIS: New York was notably efficient. The search for a co-lead to star opposite LL Cool J’s Sam Hanna honed in on a "Scott Caan-type." This led executives to approach Caan himself, who not only fits the description but also has prior experience with CBS and CBS Studios, having starred in the network’s reboot of Hawaii Five-0 and currently residing in New York. Caan expressed his eagerness to join the project, stating, "It was hard to say no." The chemistry between LL Cool J and Caan was evident during their shared appearances at CBS and Paramount’s upfront events, with the actors displaying a comfortable rapport. Their history extends beyond shared industry events; they previously appeared together in an NCIS: Los Angeles and Hawaii Five-0 crossover, albeit with Caan playing a different character. LL Cool J humorously commented on the acting challenge, "It’s called acting," when referring to Caan’s transition to a new role opposite his established character. The logistical and comedic potential of their height difference has also been acknowledged, with a joke about it reportedly featured in the pilot episode.
In terms of creative leadership, Byron Balasco, creator of the acclaimed series Kingdom, was brought on board as showrunner approximately one month prior to the official announcement. The recommendation for Balasco came from CBS Studios executives David Stapf and Bryan Seabury. Balasco’s prior experience includes a writing role on CBS’s Without a Trace, where he worked with Amy Reisenbach when she was a junior executive. Reisenbach expressed her delight at his return to the network’s fold, stating, "I actually first met Byron when he was a writer on Without a Trace and I was a baby executive, and I’m delighted to welcome him into the franchise." While Gemmill played a crucial role in the initial development and scriptwriting, his ongoing commitment as showrunner of The Pitt, which produces 15 episodes annually, precluded him from taking on the showrunner duties for NCIS: New York. However, Gemmill intends to remain involved, offering support to Balasco, who is expected to pen the second episode of the series. NCIS: New York has received a 20-episode order for its inaugural season, with final deals for the creative team recently concluded.
Franchise Expansion and Strategic Vision
The launch of NCIS: New York is a significant element of CBS’s broader strategy to build and expand its established franchises. Over the past five years, the network has introduced four NCIS spin-offs, with two currently airing on CBS: NCIS: Sydney and the prequel NCIS: Origins. This accelerated pace of franchise development reflects a clear directive from Paramount’s leadership, particularly George Cheeks, to consistently have new installments of major series in development. This approach has proven highly successful for CBS, which has consistently dominated broadcast television ratings with its new series.
The network’s presentation of its fall 2026 schedule highlighted this success, showcasing that CBS has secured the top-rated new broadcast series for the past five seasons. Franchise extensions have played a pivotal role in this dominance. For instance, in the 2023-24 season, Tracker (a new original concept) was the No. 1 new series, with spin-offs Elsbeth (No. 2) and NCIS: Sydney (No. 3) also performing strongly. The 2024-25 season saw Matlock as the No. 1 new series, with Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage (No. 2) and NCIS: Origins (No. 5) also achieving significant viewership. The current 2025-26 season is particularly remarkable, with CBS claiming the top four new series in total viewers, all of which are franchise extensions: Marshals (No. 1), Sheriff Country (No. 2), Boston Blue (No. 3), and CIA (No. 4).
The introduction of NCIS: New York extends CBS’s streak of launching at least one new franchise offshoot to four consecutive seasons. This strategic focus on franchise expansion is driven by their proven ability to attract and retain audiences. The placement of NCIS: New York directly after the mothership series on Tuesdays is also a deliberate choice, designed to facilitate natural crossovers and capitalize on the significant ratings potential associated with such events. This is a strategic advantage that CBS has lacked with some of its more recent franchise extensions, such as NCIS: Origins, which is set in a different time period, and NCIS: Sydney, which operates on a different production timeline and content focus.
A Character’s Enduring Appeal and a New Chapter
For LL Cool J, NCIS: New York represents a continuation of his long-standing relationship with the character of Sam Hanna, whom he has portrayed for 17 years. The actor-rapper attributes the character’s longevity and his own commitment to his heroic qualities. "He’s a superhero," LL Cool J stated. "This is a guy who puts his life on the line for his partners, for his friends, for the people that he loves, for his country, and I think that’s cool." This dedication to portraying a character who embodies bravery and a strong moral compass has resonated with audiences for nearly two decades.
Before the official premiere of NCIS: New York, LL Cool J will make two guest appearances on the NCIS mothership later this month. While these appearances are intended to offer a glimpse into Sam Hanna’s new chapter and his impending return to New York, sources indicate they are not explicitly designed to set up the spin-off. However, LL Cool J teased that "there’ll be some lines in there that set up New York," hinting at subtle narrative threads that will bridge his current appearances with his upcoming series.
The official logline for NCIS: New York provides a compelling preview of the series’ premise: "NCIS Agent Sam Hanna (LL Cool J) returns to his hometown of New York City to their field office, partnering with a roguish agent (Caan) and helping lead a new team as they are tasked with high-stakes missions to defend one of the world’s most vital cities and ports." LL Cool J further elaborated on the tone and style of the new series, promising, "It’s gonna be a lot of fun, a lot of sarcasm, lot of banter, lot of witty repartees, lot of New York. It’s gonna be everything you need to get."
The decision to bring NCIS: New York to the fall 2026 schedule was met with enthusiasm from CBS executives. Amy Reisenbach, President of CBS Entertainment, used dramatic effect during the schedule reveal, leaving a moment of suspense before announcing the new series, emphasizing the network’s success in keeping the project under wraps. This collaborative effort, involving a tight circle of individuals throughout the development process, underscores the strategic importance of this new franchise extension. The blank space on the schedule, before the unveiling of NCIS: New York, serves as a fitting metaphor for the "missing piece" the show brings to the network’s programming lineup – a new chapter in a universally recognized and beloved franchise. The addition of NCIS: New York not only expands the NCIS universe but also solidifies CBS’s commitment to franchise building, a strategy that has consistently driven ratings success and audience engagement.
