How the New NCIS: New York Spinoff Featuring LL Cool J and Scott Caan Was Quickly Born Through Collaborative Efforts

CBS made a significant announcement during its fall 2026 schedule reveal on Wednesday, unveiling the new series NCIS: New York. The show will feature LL Cool J and Scott Caan, with R. Scott Gemmill, creator of the Emmy-winning series The Pitt, serving as showrunner.

In a unique twist, LL Cool J reprises his role as NCIS Agent Sam Hanna, transitioning from the NCIS: Los Angeles spinoff, which he has led since its inception. This approach is rare within the franchise, echoing Christopher Meloni’s dual portrayal of Elliot Stabler on Law & Order: SVU and Law & Order: Organized Crime.

The development of NCIS: New York progressed rapidly, taking just five months from initial discussions to the greenlight, which included a finalized script, cast agreements, and a hired showrunner.

CBS’s swift action reflects a longer effort to keep LL Cool J’s character on-screen following the conclusion of NCIS: LA in May 2023. This strategy also included guest appearances by Cool J on NCIS: Hawai’i and the flagship NCIS. He is set to make two additional appearances on the main series later this month, teasing Sam Hanna’s new chapter without directly leading into the spinoff, according to sources.

Assembling the Team

CBS’s approach to expanding the NCIS franchise has accelerated, with four new offshoots launched over the last five years, including NCIS: Sydney and a prequel, NCIS: Origins, which continue to air on CBS.

George Cheeks, Chair of TV Media at Paramount, emphasizes a focus on nurturing franchise development, ensuring that a potential new series is always in the pipeline.

Sam Hanna was a prime candidate for a new offshoot, leading to conversations with LL Cool J last fall. The New York setting for the series was quickly established, with Cool J suggesting that R. Scott Gemmill write the script based on his extensive experience with NCIS: Los Angeles.

Gemmill, known for his recent success with The Pitt, has a long history with the NCIS franchise, serving as an executive producer for its entirety. He was approached for this project shortly before Christmas.

“They came to me and said they were considering an NCIS: New York with Todd, and I said, I’m in. That’s all it takes,” Gemmill remarked at CBS’s upfront event.

Gemmill expressed enthusiasm about the series, highlighting the significance of New York as the backdrop. “New York is the burning center of the universe, so I was just excited and happy to be asked to be a part of it,” he stated.

LL Cool J, who was born and raised in New York, will likely film around the city, although exact locations have yet to be confirmed.

Gemmill crafted the script’s first draft during his Christmas break from The Pitt. As discussions shifted toward selecting a co-lead character, the decision was made to pair Sam Hanna with another agent, similar to his partnership with Grisha Callen in NCIS: LA.

According to the logline, NCIS Agent Sam Hanna returns to New York City to join a team led by a roguish agent (Caan) as they tackle high-stakes missions in one of the world’s most critical cities and ports.

LL Cool J teases his new ‘NCIS’ New York spinoff at #CBSFest and explains why he loves playing Agent Sam Hanna after so many years
More details about ‘NCIS: New York’ here: https://t.co/Uw1HUUVt70 pic.twitter.com/c8d1WuCAhc

— Deadline (@DEADLINE) April 16, 2026

As the creative team discussed potential actors for the partner role, executives found themselves envisioning a “Scott Caan-type,” ultimately deciding to approach Caan himself. Caan is familiar with CBS procedural dramas, having previously starred in Hawaii Five-0 and currently residing in New York.

Cool J and Caan also share a history, having worked together in a crossover event where Caan portrayed a different character.

“It’s called acting,” Cool J joked about Caan’s switch in characters.

The two exhibited strong chemistry during promotional events, and their height difference adds humor, which is addressed in the pilot with a comedic line.

Alongside Caan’s involvement, Byron Balasco, known for creating Kingdom, has been brought on board as showrunner, following recommendations from CBS executives.

Reisenbach expressed her excitement, stating, “I actually first met Byron when he was a writer on Without a Trace and I was a baby executive, and I’m delighted to welcome him into the franchise.”

Balasco is expected to write the second episode of NCIS: New York, which has been given a 20-episode order.

Gemmill, despite his commitments, hopes to remain involved with the new project. “Byron Balasco is going to be running the show, and I will help out as much as I can,” he mentioned.

Extending the Streak

In revealing the fall 2026 CBS schedule, Reisenbach built suspense by leaving the 9 PM Tuesday slot vacant momentarily before announcing NCIS: New York. She expressed delight at successfully maintaining secrecy surrounding the project throughout its development.

The vacant time slot symbolizes the addition of a vital new franchise extension.

Adding a new spinoff aligns with CBS’s trend of introducing new franchise extensions for three consecutive seasons. While non-franchise shows have experienced mixed success, offshoots like Tracker and Matlock have thrived, with all recent expansions remaining healthy in viewership.

Cheeks highlighted CBS’s ratings achievements, showcasing the most-watched new broadcast series over the past five years.

Ahead of the NCIS: New York announcement, CBS had been prepared to transition from four to zero new franchise titles, with plans for three new series, including original dramas Cupertino and Eternally Yours alongside an adaptation titled Einstein.

With the introduction of NCIS: New York, CBS has now extended its streak of new franchise offshoots to four consecutive seasons. The new spinoff, positioned in the Tuesday evening lineup following the mothership series, creates opportunities for crossovers, which are sought after for their high ratings potential. This strategy has previously eluded CBS due to Origins operating in a different timeline and Sydney on a separate content trajectory.

Overall, NCIS: New York not only revitalizes LL Cool J’s involvement as Sam Hanna but also extends his portrayal of the character, which has spanned 17 years.