NCIS: Origins Co-Creator Gina Lucita Monreal Exits Ahead of Season 3

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Published Jan 29, 2026, 9:49 AM EST

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It's only been a week since CBS confirmed that the NCIS franchise would return for more seasons across its different successful procedurals. The mothership, NCIS, has been picked up for Season 24; its prequel, NCIS: Origins, will be back for Season 3; andNCIS: Sydney, which Paramount+ Australia originally commissioned, is returning to the network for Season 4. As fans anticipate what's ahead, the acclaimed franchise has just lost a major player, marking the second time they will leave the NCIS universe.

New reports confirm that Gina Lucita Monreal, who co-created NCIS: Origins, won't return for the action drama's third season, as she will exit at the end of Season 2 to focus on new projects. Fellow creator and co-showrunner David J. North is staying on and will be the sole showrunner for Season 3. Fans may recall that Monreal previously left the original NCIS in 2021 after serving as a writer-producer for 10 years. At the time, she went on to work on other series and became writer/co-executive producer on Hulu's Paradise Season 1 and Netflix's Griselda before returning for NCIS: Origins.

The NCIS: Origins EP couldn't help but appreciate her brilliant team, including CBS execs, in a recent statement, adding positive anticipation for what Season 3 — which has no premiere date — will offer.

“It’s been the biggest honor of my career to write NCIS: Origins alongside my incredible co-showrunner and friend David North. I want to thank Amy Reisenbach, David Stapf, and everyone at CBS Network and Studio for their support. To have had this opportunity to work again with the incomparable Mark Harmon, Sean Harmon, our writers, and the best cast and crew in the business — how lucky am I? I can’t wait to see what this extraordinary group cooks up for Season 3.”

'NCIS: Origins' Has Been Renewed

As the sixth installment in the NCIS franchise, NCIS: Origins centers on a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the early '90s, years before the events of NCIS, and is narrated by Mark Harmon, who portrayed the character in the mothership series. The procedural premiered on October 14, 2024, on CBS and was renewed for a second run in February 2025. Season 2 premiered last October and is expected to conclude after 18 episodes, similar to Season 1. Austin Stowell leads as Gibbs and stars alongside Kyle Schmid, Mariel Molino, Tyla Abercrumbie, Diany Rodriguez, and Caleb Foote. Produced by CBS Studios, it is executive-produced by co-creators North and Monreal, along with Mark Harmon and his son, Sean Harmon.

NCIS: Origins Season 2 returns with new episodes on CBS on March 3. Stick with Collider for further updates.

Release Date October 14, 2024

Directors Niels Arden Oplev, John Terlesky, Diana Valentine, Edward Ornelas, Hanelle M. Culpepper, Lionel Coleman, Loren Yaconelli, Pete Chatmon, Pamela Romanowsky, Ruben Garcia, Jessica Lowrey

Writers Brendan Fehily