CBS has officially confirmed the first on-screen reunion between Mark Harmon and Michael Weatherly in a decade. The actors will reprise their iconic roles as Leroy Jethro Gibbs and Anthony DiNozzo in the upcoming third episode of NCIS: Origins Season 3.
The episode, titled “Return of the Mack,” is scheduled to air Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 10/9c. While NCIS: Origins began as a prequel focused on Gibbs’ early years in 1992, the third season has expanded its scope to include a significant present-day 2026 storyline. Harmon, who previously served as the series narrator, is appearing on-screen in all 10 episodes of the current season as part of this modern-day mystery.
The reunion is driven by a shift in the agency’s hierarchy. According to reporting from CBR, Tony DiNozzo has been appointed the new Director of NCIS. This promotion follows the death of longtime Director Leon Vance, a character exit that occurred during the previous season. DiNozzo’s transition to the Director’s chair marks a major status quo change for the franchise, effectively moving the character from his former life in Paris back to the center of the agency’s domestic operations.
The narrative catalyst for the meeting involves a direct threat to Gibbs. In the Season 3 premiere, Gibbs was shot by unknown assailants while living in Alaska. Seeking answers and protection, he returns to NCIS headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he is forced to coordinate with his former protégé.
The “three character” return also includes the late Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard. While the character remains a cornerstone of the franchise’s history, the return is facilitated through the show’s dual-timeline structure. Actor Adam Campbell is confirmed to reprise his role as the younger version of Ducky within the 1992 segments of the episode. This allows the show to maintain its prequel roots while the 2026 storyline handles the veteran actors’ reunion.
This expansion of the NCIS universe coincides with broader growth for the brand. In October 2026, CBS also premiered NCIS: New York, a new spinoff starring LL Cool J—reprising his role as Sam Hanna—alongside Scott Caan.
The October 20 episode marks the first time Harmon and Weatherly have shared a scene since Weatherly’s original departure from the flagship series in 2016. The 2026 timeline serves as a primary focus of “Return of the Mack,” as the agency grapples with the investigation into the attack on Gibbs.
