NCIS Spinoff Set in New Orleans in the Works at CBS, Mark Harmon to Executive Produce

The potential new CBS series would be introduced to NCIS fans with a two-part episode slated to air in the spring

By Tierney Bricker Sep 24, 2013 12:36 AMTags
Mark Harmon, NCISMichael Yarish/CBS

And the spinoff craze continues!

CBS is looking to expand the successful NCIS franchise with a spinoff set in New Orleans, sources confirm to E! News. The project, executive produced by NCIS showrunner Gary Glasberg and series star Mark Harmon, will be introduced in a two-part backdoor pilot, which will air in the spring.

According to Deadline, who first reported the news of CBS' plans for the spinoff, NCIS: New Orleans (we assume that would be the title!) would center on NCIS New Orleans office which handles cases from Pensacola through Mississippi and Louisiana, as well as the Texas panhandle.

The "character-driven" project, which will film in February, will be written by Glasberg. This wouldn't be NCIS' first spinoff attempt: The popular NCIS: Los Angeles starring LL Cool J and Chris O'Donnell launched in 2009 (after being introduced via a backdoor pilot on NCIS in 2008) and will hit its 100th episode this year. Last season, CBS introduced NCIS: Red as a backdoor pilot on NCIS: Los Angeles. The project, which starred John Corbett and Kim Raver, was not picked up to series.

Spinoff fever seems to have hit Hollywood as of late: The CW is launching The Vampire Diaries' offshoot The Originals, which is also set in New Orleans, while ABC's Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, a Once Upon a Time spinoff, is also debuting this fall. AMC just announced plans for a Breaking Bad spinoff, as well an offshoot of The Walking Dead. NBC is also launching a Chicago Fire spinoff, Chicago PD, later this year. Other series eyeing spinoffs include Arrow and Supernatural.

Of course, spinoffs have a rich and successful history at CBS: In addition to NCIS: Los Angeles, the network had three hit CSI series, including CSI, CSI: Miami and CSI: NY.

NCIS returns for its 11th season on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 9 p.m. on CBS.

Are you excited by the idea of an NCIS spinoff set in New Orleans? Sound off in the comments!

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