Mark Harmon and Michael Weatherly are set to reunite on the prequel series NCIS: Origins, marking their characters’ first meeting in a decade. Showrunner and executive producer David J. North discussed the upcoming episode, titled “Return of the Mack,” scheduled to air on October 20th.
The Reunion Details
In the upcoming episode, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, played by Harmon, travels to NCIS’ Washington, D.C. headquarters to seek assistance from the newly appointed director Tony DiNozzo, portrayed by Weatherly. North stated that the storyline developed when producers considered which characters fans would most want to see Harmon interact with in a present-day narrative.
While Weatherly’s appearance is limited to this single episode for the current season, North noted that the character’s new position as director means familiar dynamic traits, such as head-slapping, will not feature in their interaction. North added that Ziva will also be mentioned during the episode.
Season Arcs and Character Developments
North explained that Gibbs requires high-level access to navigate bureaucratic barriers after being shot by unknown assailants in the Season 3 premiere. The mystery ties directly into Gibbs’ overarching storyline for the season.
In addition to the present-day storyline, the showrunner touched on other plot points for the season, including a forthcoming secret regarding the character Lala in the season finale, an undercover sequence featuring young Gibbs played by Austin Stowell, and Ducky filling in as the medical examiner alongside guest characters while Dr. Tango and Dr. Friedman are out of town.