NCIS To Upgrade Locale For Proposed Fourth Spinoff In Development

CBS is apparently looking to expand the NCIS universe – and pay a return visit to an exotic locale that had done well for the Eye Network in the recent past.

NCIS Franchise Allegedly Adding A Hawaii-Based Series

Though the Tiffany Network has yet to comment on the story, TVLine is reporting that the newest addition to the NCIS franchise would be set in Hawaii – the same location as the uber-popular, and recently wrapped, action procedural Hawaii Five-O.

If ordered to series, this iteration of the popular crime-solving saga would mark CBS’ fourth attempt at expanding the NCIS brand. Previous successes include NCIS: Los Angeles, and the Scott Bakula-starring NCIS: New Orleans.

A further attempted spinoff, NCIS: Red – which would have followed the exploits of a mobile anti-terrorist unit and which counted amongst its cast Jon Corbett (Sex & the City) and Kim Raver (Grey’s Anatomy) – was never developed beyond the initial backdoor-pilot stage.

In addition to serving as an extension of the much-beloved NCIS world, the Hawaii-based effort could also host crossovers with the aforementioned Hawaii Five-O – especially as both programs are known to exist within the same shared universe — a universe which also includes fellow CBS shows MacGyver and Magnum P.I.

The concept and many of the characters that would make up the original NCIS series were first introduced via a two-part episode of the CBS legal drama JAG.

During those Season 8 installments, titled Ice Queen and Meltdown, viewers met Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon), his subordinate, Anthony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly), Forensic Scientist Abby Sciuto (Pauley Perrette), and Chief Medical Examiner Donald “Ducky” Mallard (David McCallum).

A number of other characters, including Timothy McGee (Sean Murray) and Caitlin Todd (Sasha Alexander), were added to the roster once the series proper began airing, while Special Agent Vivian Blackadder (Robyn Lively), a team member introduced in the backdoor pilot, was not carried over. NCIS airs Tuesday nights on CBS. Check your local listings for airtimes.