Crime

When Does NCIS: Origins Season 3 Come Out? Is It Renewed?

The story Gibbs never told.

NCIS: Origins Season 3 doesn't have an official release date yet. Based on the roughly 12-month gap between previous seasons, expect it around October 2026.

IMDb

7.5/10

Seasons

2

Episodes

36

NCIS: Origins poster

Diagnostics

Network
CBS
Genres
Crime, Drama
First aired
2024-10-14
Last aired
2026-05-05
Runtime
Rated
TV-14

Awards 1 win total

Search interestRising ↗

Predictive Logic Analysis

The renewal picture for NCIS: Origins is about as clear as it gets. Deadline confirmed an early Season 3 renewal in late January 2026, and Variety followed with news that showrunner David J. North signed an overall deal with CBS Studios, explicitly noting the show had already been picked up for another season. These are credible, specific trade reports, not inference from hype. The show was renewed before its second season concluded, which is a strong signal of CBS's confidence in the property.

On the performance side, the numbers support that confidence. Season 2 episode ratings average 8.2 on IMDb, up from 7.9 in Season 1, with a rising trajectory across the season. Search interest is climbing, Wikipedia pageviews are up, and the Trakt active watcher count sits near 20,000 with steady momentum. The franchise crossover with the flagship NCIS in November 2025 also gave the show a visibility boost. The one wrinkle is that co-showrunner Gina Lucita Monreal is departing after Season 2, but North retaining sole creative control under a new overall deal at CBS Studios actually reinforces continuity rather than threatening it. CBS has a long history of protecting its NCIS franchise, and this show is performing well enough that there was never serious doubt about its future.

What is NCIS: Origins about?

NCIS: Origins takes viewers back to 1991, to the formative years of television's most iconic federal agent before he became the legendary figure audiences have known for two decades. The show centers on a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs as he launches his career at the newly established NCIS office at Camp Pendleton, working under the mentorship of Mike Franks, the grizzled veteran who would shape Gibbs into the relentless investigator fans recognize today. By grounding the origin story in a specific moment in time—the early days of NCIS itself—the series offers longtime viewers the chance to see how Gibbs developed his infamous rules and distinctive interrogation methods, while introducing newcomers to the character through a lens of raw ambition and professional uncertainty that contrasts sharply with his later mastery.

The show embraces a grittier, more unpolished aesthetic than its parent franchise, leaning into the procedural crime drama conventions while maintaining the ensemble chemistry that has always been central to the NCIS brand. Set against the backdrop of a newly formed agency still finding its footing, Origins captures both the procedural rigor of military criminal investigations and the personal friction that emerges when a team of flawed agents must learn to trust one another. The period setting allows for a different energy than contemporary NCIS—one less reliant on high-tech solutions and more dependent on old-fashioned detective work and interpersonal dynamics. Austin Stowell's portrayal of the younger Gibbs brings vulnerability and hunger to a character defined by certainty in later years, while Kyle Schmid's Mike Franks anchors the ensemble as the cantankerous mentor figure, creating a natural tension between idealism and cynicism that propels the storytelling forward.

The series has resonated with both longtime franchise devotees and fresh audiences, drawing a respectable 7.5 rating on IMDb based on thousands of votes. Its premise—essentially a prequel to one of television's most durable crime dramas—taps into the cultural appetite for origin stories while leveraging the built-in fan base of the original NCIS, which has remained a consistent ratings performer. The show occupies a peculiar space within the crowded crime drama landscape, functioning simultaneously as nostalgia for established viewers and as an accessible entry point for those curious about the character's legend but unwilling to commit to two decades of episodes.

NCIS: Origins represents a calculated extension of one of television's most enduring franchises, betting that audiences remain invested in understanding how Gibbs became Gibbs. Rather than coast on legacy alone, the series attempts to provide substance by depicting a less certain version of its protagonist navigating real stakes and genuine questions about his path. In doing so, it stakes its claim not merely as spinoff product but as a character study dressed in procedural clothing—examining the formation of a professional identity that has captivated viewers for generations.

Created by Gina Lucita Monreal, David J. North

Themes

californianavyu.s. navyprequelcriminal investigationex militaryspecial agent1990spolice procedural

Is NCIS: Origins renewed or cancelled?

Working toward renewal

high

Officially renewed for Season 3, confirmed by Deadline before Season 2 finished airing

Source
high

Showrunner David J. North signed an overall deal with CBS Studios, explicitly tied to the already-renewed Season 3

Source
medium

Season 2 IMDb episode ratings averaging 8.2, up from 7.9 in Season 1, with a rising trajectory across the season

medium

CBS's established pattern of protecting and extending the NCIS franchise

medium

Rising search interest, Wikipedia pageviews, and steady Trakt active watcher count of ~20,000

low

NCIS franchise crossover event in November 2025 boosted visibility and signaled network investment

Source

Working against it

low

Co-showrunner Gina Lucita Monreal departing after Season 2, introducing some creative transition risk

Source

NCIS: Origins Season 3 Release Date

Season 2 wrapped on May 5, 2026, and with a Season 3 renewal already locked, production will likely begin in mid-to-late summer 2026. CBS typically runs its NCIS franchise shows on a fall premiere schedule, so a Season 3 debut in October 2026 is the most probable outcome, consistent with how both Season 1 and Season 2 launched. There is no confirmed premiere date yet, but given the early renewal and North's overall deal providing organizational stability, there is no obvious reason for a delayed start. Expect a fall 2026 return barring any production complications.

LowerHigher

Best & worst episodes

NCIS: Origins seasons

Season 12024 · 18 ep
  • 1. Enter Sandman (1)2024-10-14 · ★ 6.9
  • 2. Enter Sandman (2)2024-10-14 · ★ 8.0
  • 3. Bend, Don't Break2024-10-21 · ★ 7.9
  • 4. All's Not Lost2024-10-28 · ★ 8.3
  • 5. Last Rites2024-11-04 · ★ 7.3
  • 6. Incognito2024-11-11 · ★ 7.6
  • 7. One Flew Over2024-11-25 · ★ 7.6
  • 8. Sick as Our Secrets2024-12-02 · ★ 8.0
  • 9. Vivo o Muerto2024-12-09 · ★ 8.2
  • 10. Blue Bayou2024-12-16 · ★ 8.9
  • 11. Flight of Icarus2025-01-27 · ★ 8.3
  • 12. Touchstones2025-02-03 · ★ 7.4
  • 13. Monsoon2025-02-10 · ★ 7.4
  • 14. To Have and to Hold2025-03-24 · ★ 7.8
  • 15. From the Ashes2025-03-31 · ★ 7.7
  • 16. Bugs2025-04-14 · ★ 7.8
  • 17. Darlin', Don't Refrain2025-04-21 · ★ 8.0
  • 18. Cecilia2025-04-28 · ★ 9.2
Season 22025 · 18 ep
  • 1. The Funky Bunch2025-10-14 · ★ 6.2
  • 2. Who By Fire2025-10-21 · ★ 6.0
  • 3. The Edge2025-10-28 · ★ 7.7
  • 4. No Man Left Behind2025-11-04 · ★ 7.2
  • 5. Funny How Time Slips Away (I)2025-11-11 · ★ 7.1
  • 6. Happy Birthday2025-11-18 · ★ 6.3
  • 7. Crazy Little Thing Called Love2025-12-02 · ★ 1.0
  • 8. End of the Road2025-12-09 · ★ 7.0
  • 9. Fools Rush In2026-03-03 · ★ 10.0
  • 10. Lean On Me2026-03-10 · ★ 10.0
  • 11. Feelin' Alright?2026-03-17 · ★ 10.0
  • 12. The Gambler2026-03-24 · ★ 10.0
  • 13. Homeward Bound2026-03-31 · ★ 10.0
  • 14. The Beautiful Ballad of Gary Callahan2026-04-07 · ★ 10.0
  • 15. Johnny B. Goode2026-04-14 · ★ 10.0
  • 16. Who's Gonna Drive You Home?2026-04-21 · ★ 10.0
  • 17. Rule 132026-04-28 · ★ 9.9
  • 18. Hollywood Ending2026-05-05 · ★ 10.0

NCIS: Origins trailer

NCIS: Origins cast

View all cast →
Austin Stowell

Austin Stowell

Leroy Jethro Gibbs

Kyle Schmid

Kyle Schmid

Special Agent Mike Franks

Mariel Molino

Mariel Molino

Special Agent Lala Dominguez

Tyla Abercrumbie

Tyla Abercrumbie

FOS Officer Mary Jo Hayes

Diany Rodriguez

Diany Rodriguez

Special Agent Vera Strickland

Caleb Foote

Caleb Foote

Special Agent Bernard 'Randy' Randolf

Where to watch NCIS: Origins

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AI Verdict

Likely Renewed97%high confidence
97%renewal
renewal probability
Verdict history72% → 97%
May 16Jun 20

NCIS: Origins has already been officially renewed for a third season, confirmed by multiple trade sources including Deadline and Variety. The renewal was announced in late January 2026, before Season 2 even finished airing. There is nothing uncertain here.

Live signals

19.8K watching on Traktsteady

Interest rising

Verdict updated 1 week ago · based on 3 renewal-signal articles and 7 other mentions

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    Frequently asked

    When does NCIS: Origins Season 3 come out?
    NCIS: Origins Season 3 doesn't have an official release date yet. Based on the roughly 12-month gap between previous seasons, expect it around October 2026.
    Is NCIS: Origins renewed or cancelled?
    NCIS: Origins has already been officially renewed for a third season, confirmed by multiple trade sources including Deadline and Variety. The renewal was announced in late January 2026, before Season 2 even finished airing. There is nothing uncertain here.
    How many seasons of NCIS: Origins are there?
    NCIS: Origins has aired 2 seasons so far.
    How many episodes of NCIS: Origins are there?
    There are 36 episodes of NCIS: Origins across 2 seasons.
    Who created NCIS: Origins?
    NCIS: Origins was created by Gina Lucita Monreal and David J. North.
    Where can I watch NCIS: Origins?
    NCIS: Origins is available to stream on Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount Plus Apple TV Channel , Paramount+ Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and Fandango At Home.
    What is NCIS: Origins's IMDb rating?
    NCIS: Origins holds an IMDb rating of 7.5/10 from 5,752 votes.