Unveiling the Hidden Twist: How NCIS' Original Gibbs Actor Would Have Altered the Show's Epic 20-Year Journey

Summary

NCIS was initially created with Harrison Ford in mind to play the role of Gibbs, but the idea didn't go beyond Ford being a placeholder.

Mark Harmon was chosen to play Gibbs in NCIS after the show's creators were impressed by his performance as a Secret Service agent in The West Wing. It is fortunate that Harrison Ford was not cast as Gibbs because Harmon's portrayal of the character has become iconic and he has dedicated himself to the role for nearly twenty years.

NCIS' original plans for Leroy Jethro Gibbs would have drastically altered the beloved police procedural. The show, which is the longest-running police procedural on CBS, recently celebrated its 20th anniversary on the air. It is one of the longest-running scripted American primetime television series, second only to NBC's Law & Order: SVU and Law & Order. NCIS premiered in 2003 as CBS' answer to the growing popularity of crime shows, specifically Dick Wolf's Law & Order franchise on NBC. Although it had a slow start, it gained momentum and climbed the ratings chart. Given its enduring popularity, it's no surprise that CBS wants to keep it on the air as long as possible.

The co-creators of the show, Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill, made NCIS unique by focusing on crimes involving the United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps, and their families. Like many long-running shows, NCIS has undergone several cast changes over the years, with several cast members exiting, including Sasha Alexander's Caitlin Todd after season 2, Michael Weatherly's Anthony DiNozzo at the end of season 13, and Pauley Perretter's Abby Sciuto, who stayed until season 15. Despite these departures, NCIS continued to thrive thanks to Mark Harmon's portrayal of Leroy Jethro Gibbs as the team's unwavering leader.

How Gibbs Would Be Different If Harrison Ford Had Been Cast In NCIS

NCIS is an ensemble series focused on a highly-specialized team that handles specialized cases. Harmon's Gibbs has been the iconic character of the CBS procedural until his departure at the end of season 19. Harmon has brilliantly portrayed Gibbs for almost two decades, making it difficult to imagine anyone else in the role. Interestingly, Harrison Ford was originally considered for the character, as the show's creators envisioned him leading the special agents. However, the role was not offered to Ford, and Harmon was chosen as the closest fit to the desired feel for Gibbs.

Gibbs Wouldn't Have Been In NCIS As Much With Harrison Ford

Bellisario initially had doubts about Harmon portraying Gibbs in NCIS. However, his opinion changed after watching Harmon's performance as Secret Service agent Simon Donovan in The West Wing. Besides Harmon being the ideal choice for Gibbs, there was also another advantage to selecting him as the lead in the procedural. Since Harmon's acting career had predominantly been on television, he could easily commit to almost two decades on NCIS. If Bellisario and his team had pursued Ford for the role, it would have been unlikely for him to devote that amount of time to the project.

When NCIS premiered in 2003, Ford was already a well-established movie star, headlining blockbusters year after year for two decades. He had not taken on any long-form TV series; in fact, Ford's first main role on television didn't come until the Yellowstone prequel, 1923, in 2022. Even if Ford had accepted the offer to play Gibbs on NCIS, it would have been improbable for him to dedicate his time to a production that lasted around 9 to 10 months each year while also maintaining his presence on the big screen. Ultimately, he would have had to choose which medium to prioritize.

While it is challenging to determine the exact format Ford would have chosen, it is reasonable to assume that he would have opted for the big screen, given his existing popularity. In the event of Ford's departure from the police procedural, it could have led to the abrupt end of NCIS, considering how pivotal Gibbs was to its narrative. Alternatively, NCIS would have had to endure prolonged periods without its esteemed team leader to accommodate Ford's flourishing movie career. Although this scenario would have been preferable to cancellation, it is likely that it would have had a detrimental impact on the quality of the storytelling.

Harrison Ford Could Have Impacted Other NCIS Castings

While Harmon's Gibbs has long been the face of NCIS, the show's success cannot solely be attributed to one character. The chemistry among the characters is a crucial aspect of its appeal. Gibbs' dynamic with his agents makes it easy for viewers to invest in the show, regardless of the cases they tackle each week. His relationship with Tony DiNozzo is particularly beloved by fans. What starts as a mentor-mentee dynamic evolves into a father-and-son bond, often accompanied by the trademarked head slap gag. Similarly, Gibbs' friendship with Donald "Ducky" Mallard, which predates the events of NCIS, is another significant relationship in the series.

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It's Ultimately Better That Harrison Ford Wasn't Cast As Gibbs In NCIS

Both NCIS and Ford ultimately benefitted from the decision to give the role of Gibbs to Harmon. It can be argued that this was one of the most crucial choices made in the show. Even after two decades, it is hard to imagine anyone else portraying the character better than Harmon, especially considering he was competing against one of the most legendary movie stars of all time. In the meantime, Ford's career in movies thrived during the 2000s. If he had been tied down to NCIS, it is doubtful that he would have had the same level of success in the film industry.