‘NCIS: Origins’ Prequel Adds Tyla Abercrumbie & Diany Rodriguez To Cast

EXCLUSIVE: Tyla Abercrumbie (The Chi) and Diany Rodriguez (The Blacklist) round out the series regular cast of NCIS: Origins, CBS’ prequel to the venerable procedural, which has a straight-to-series order for the 2024-2025 broadcast season.

In the CBS Studios-produced series, they join previously cast stars Austin Stowell, Mariel Molino and Kyle Schmid.

Executive produced and narrated by Mark Harmon, Origins begins in 1991, years prior to the events of NCIS, and chronicles Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ younger years. In the prequel, Gibbs (Stowell) starts his career as a newly minted special agent at the fledgling NIS Camp Pendleton office where he forges his place on a gritty, ragtag team led by NCIS legend Mike Franks (Schmid).

Abercrumbie will play Field Operation Support Officer Mary Jo who is both a product of her time and the lifeblood of the Camp Pendleton office. With all the acronyms floating around the agency, this mama bear has wryly dubbed herself “HSIC”: Head Secretary in Charge. If you want to know where the bodies are buried, Mary Jo’s the one to ask.

Rodriguez will portray Special Agent Vera Strickland, a no-nonsense, sharp-witted Brooklynite who’s tough as nails and never minces words. She’s spent her entire career being underestimated by misogynistic morons (as she calls them), but if it’s a fight those good ol’ boys are looking for, then it’s a fight they’re going to get.

Molino plays Special Agent Lala Dominguez. Mark Harmon and his son Sean Harmon executive produce alongside David J. North and Gina Lucita Monreal who are co-writing the premiere episode and serving as co-showrunners. Jason Kennedy is the casting director.

Abercrumbie is known for for her recurring role as Nina Williams on Showtime’s The Chi. Her notable television credits also include recurring roles on Low Winter Sun, The Mob Doctor, and The Chicago Code. Abercrumbie, who is also a playwright, is repped by Stewart Talent.

Rodriguez recurred as Weecha Xiu on NBC’s The Blacklist. Her recent credits include an arc on Peacock’s Twisted Metal and a guest spot on CBS’ drama series The Equalizer. She is repped by The People Store and Artist Collective Entertainment.