NCIS Unveils New Spinoff With A Fan-Favorite Star Returning And More Big Names On Board

Well, the NCIS juggernaut refuses to slow down—now, CBS is teeing up yet another spin-off. And this one pulls in a familiar face, plus a few twists that might surprise longtime fans. If you thought the franchise had already hit every possible city with an acronym, think again: we’re heading to New York, and LL Cool J is back in the driver's seat.

Back to the Big Apple (and Back to Sam Hanna)

First off, if you didn’t know LL Cool J has basically lived a double life as Special Agent Sam Hanna, you might’ve skipped a few TV seasons. He led NCIS: Los Angeles for a solid 14 years (2009–2023!), popped up in NCIS proper, and guest-starred in NCIS: Hawai'i more than once. Now, the guy gets to take Hanna home: NCIS: New York is officially in the works, and this time the plot’s simple—Sam Hanna returns to New York City as part of their field office.

Here’s Who You’ll See (So Far)

• LL Cool J returns as Special Agent Sam Hanna, back on his home turf.
• Scott Caan (that’s Danno from Hawaii Five-0, if you need a memory jog) joins as a so-called 'roguish agent.' Not even making that up; that’s the official spin. If the chemistry is as punchy as it sounds on paper, we might be in for a fun hero-buddy dynamic.
• The rest of the team? Still under wraps, but they’ll apparently be the go-to squad when New York faces its biggest (and presumably TV-friendly) national security threats.

How’s It All Going to Air?

Because CBS can’t let you forget this is a mega-franchise night, NCIS: New York slides into the Tuesday 9 p.m. slot. So you’ll get:

NCIS (the OG) at 8 p.m.
NCIS: New York at 9 p.m.
NCIS: Origins at 10 p.m.

And, just to keep programmers on their toes, NCIS: Sydney eventually joins the lineup midseason, bumping NCIS: Origins to make room. Yes, there really is a global NCIS now.

Who’s Actually Making This Happen?

The spin-off comes from R. Scott Gemmill—the guy’s not exactly new to the party. He created The Pitt and spent a serious chunk of his life running (and writing for) NCIS: Los Angeles. If anyone knows how to keep procedural drama ticking for way, way too many seasons, it’s Gemmill.

In the Meantime: Yes, Sam Hanna Will Still Pop Up Soon

If you need your Sam Hanna fix before the New York launch, you’re in luck—LL Cool J will show up in two upcoming NCIS episodes, airing April 21 and April 28.

'NCIS: Los Angeles ran from 2009 to 2023, centered around the high-stakes world of a division of NCIS that is charged with apprehending dangerous and elusive criminals, who pose a threat to the nation’s security.'

Nobody will ever accuse the franchise of thinking small, right?

How Big Is This NCIS Universe Now?

Just for a sense of scale: NCIS: Los Angeles featured a revolving door of stars—Chris O'Donnell, Medalion Rahimi, Linda Hunt, Daniela Ruah, Eric Christian Olsen, Barrett Foa, Renée Felice Smith—and made LL Cool J's Sam Hanna the rare spinoff character to survive and thrive across cities, settings, and (now) networks. With New York joining the mix, the show count is getting wild.

Let’s be real: whether you think the world needs another NCIS or not, CBS clearly isn’t ready to let go of its most reliable procedural cash cow. If Sam Hanna wind-sprints through Times Square with a suspect before the end of season one, I won’t be shocked.