CBS is reportedly expanding its NCIS universe again—and this time it’s taking things to New York City.
LL Cool J, who first introduced Special Agent Sam Hanna on NCIS: Los Angeles, is set to return to the role as part of a new spinoff, NCIS: New York. The series brings Sam back to his hometown, where he joins a newly formed field office and teams up with a more rule-bending agent (played by Scott Caan) to lead high-stakes missions centered around one of the most critical ports in the world.
The new series is positioned within CBS’s Tuesday night NCIS lineup, airing at 9 p.m. between the flagship series NCIS at 8 p.m. and NCIS: Origins at 10 p.m. Meanwhile, NCIS: Sydney is expected to join the schedule midseason.
For fans of Sam Hanna, LL Cool J’s return won’t be limited to the spinoff. He’s also set to reprise the role in upcoming episodes of the mothership series this season, including appearances tied to a two-part storyline that continues to blur the lines between his past in Los Angeles and his present-day NCIS work.
In recent episodes teased by CBS, Sam is found in rough shape amid a blackout crisis at NCIS headquarters—quickly signaling that whatever pulled him back into the fold is far from routine. Even as he jokes, “I guess I should’ve called, huh,” it’s clear his return carries unfinished business.
Behind the scenes, the new series reunites LL Cool J with longtime collaborators from the NCIS franchise, continuing the creative thread that helped define his original run on NCIS: Los Angeles, which introduced Sam Hanna as one of the franchise’s most enduring characters.
For now, CBS is teasing a full trailer rollout and continued crossover momentum across the NCIS universe—but one thing is clear: Sam Hanna isn’t just visiting anymore.