As the arrival of the new fall TV season grows closer, it’s a given that one of the most anticipated new series is “NCIS: New York,” set to debut on CBS.
In the upcoming series, LL Cool J will reprise his “NCIS: Los Angeles” role as NCIS agent Sam Hanna. Hanna will hit the streets of the Big Apple, alongside a new partner played by Scott Caan, best known as Det. Danny “Danno” Williams in 10 seasons of “Hawaii Five-0.”
First-Look Photos
According to the series’ synopsis, Hanna “returns to his hometown of New York City to their field office, partnering with a roguish agent (Caan) and helping lead a new team as they are tasked with high-stakes missions to defend one of the most vital cities and ports in the world.”
On Tuesday, August 18, People was the first to obtain an exclusive look at the show’s new teaser trailer, along first-look images.
In addition, the cast also includes Jennifer Beals as Assistant Special Agent in Charge Robyn Wells, Jacqueline Byers as NCIS Special Agent Addison “Addy” Ross, Shane Harper as NCIS Special Agent Wyatt Sellers and Devin Druid as NCIS Tech Specialist Sean Sullivan.
Series Premiere
CBS also previewed the logline for the debut episode, which finds Hanna back in NYC “after years of special assignments and covert ops” in the field.
“When Sam’s friend and Navy reservist Jack Halloway is found dead, he requests permission from Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Robyn Wells (Beals) to investigate his friend’s death,” reads the episode description.
“Robyn pairs Sam with roguish agent Nick Schaeffer (Caan), who introduces him to the rest of the team: clean-cut Wyatt Sellers (Harper), bright-eyed Addy Ross (Byers) and hacker-turned-computer guy Sean Sullivan (Druid). As the team investigates Jack’s death, they work together to gather key information that can help find the culprits.”
Sam Hanna In a New Context
In an interview with Parade, LL Cool J — who’s also one of the show’s producers — discussed reviving the character in a return to the “NCIS” franchise.
“Sam Hanna is Sam Hanna, but the thing that’s different is the context,” he said. “You’re going to be surrounded with New York energy, put him in a New York environment with the New York electricity and you get a different guy. It’s like 1 + 3 is four, and 5 − 1 is 4, and 3 + 1 is 4, but it’s still 4, so you’re still going to have Sam, just in a different situation.”
For the rapper-turned-action hero, one big bonus involved in this new venture is that fact that it’s filmed on location in New York City — hometown of not just Hanna, but also the actor who plays him.
“I get to go coast to coast,” he explained. “I get to go back home. I’m from New York, born and raised. For me, what’s better than going home?”
When Does ‘NCIS: New York’ Debut?
“NCIS: New York” will premiere on Tuesday, October 6, with the new spinoff airing at 9 p.m., wedged between “NCIS” at 8 p.m. and “NCIS: Origins” at 10 p.m.
