"NCIS" Prequel Series Casts Mariel Molino as Female Lead

Mariel Molino has been cast in a lead role in the “NCIS” prequel series, “NCIS: Origins”.

Malino joins series lead Austin Stowell in the prequel was ordered at CBS in January with plans to launch during the 2024-2025 broadcast season. Mark Harmon, who played Gibbs for nearly two decades in the mothership series, will serve as the series' narrator and executive producer.

“NCIS: Origins” is set in 1991 as Gibbs starts his career as a newly minted special agent at the fledgling NIS Camp Pendleton office where he forges his place on a gritty, ragtag team led by NCIS legend Mike Franks.

Molino will play a new character in the “NCIS” universe, Special Agent Lala Dominguez. She is described as “a former Marine who navigates her 1990s male-dominated field with a steely resolve and a dark sense of humor. When a tormented Leroy Jethro Gibbs joins her team, the ensuing story between these two enigmatic outsiders is filled with sparks and turns that will keep the audience guessing.”

Molino’s past TV credits include “The Watchful Eye,” “Promised Land,” and “Papis muy padres.” She has also appeared in films like “The Shade” and “Crazy for Change.” 

David J. North and Gina Lucita Monreal co-wrote the pilot for “NCIS: Origins” and served as co-showrunners and executive producers on the project.

North and Monreal both wrote on “NCIS” for 10 years, with North currently serving as co-showrunner on that show. Mark Harmon executive produces along with his son, Sean Harmon. CBS Studios produces.

The project is the latest expansion of the “NCIS” franchise. In addition to the mothership series, which recently launched its 21st season, the franchise also spawned “NCIS: Hawaii”, “NCIS: Sydney”, “NCIS: Los Angeles”, and “NCIS: New Orleans".