With NCIS: Origins coming up, there were a lot of actors who auditioned to play Jethro Gibbs, but I am happy that the role did not go to Stephen Amell. The latest spinoff of NCIS will focus on a young Jethro Gibbs, before he joins the team in NCIS. The NCIS: Origins trailer showed off the newest cast and team dynamics, which are certain to be an exciting addition to the NCIS franchise.
The show will star Austin Stowell as Gibbs and will also feature returning NCIS characters like Mike Franks, played by Kyle Schmid. The NCIS: Origins cast will also feature several new characters who have not appeared in NCIS, but that are important to Gibb's professional development as a young agent. As the season premiere nears, I am excited to see the new cast in action and I am glad that Stowell got the role of Gibbs over Amell.
Stephen Amell Almost Played Young Gibbs In NCIS: Origins
Amell Received Good Feedback After His Audition For Gibbs
In an interview on the Inside of You With Michael Rosenbaum podcast via TVLine, Amell revealed he auditioned to play Gibbs in the upcoming NCIS: Origins. Amell said that he "thought that the audition went extraordinarily well
Although it is frustrating not to get a part you audition for, especially after great feedback, I am happy that Amell did not get the part of Gibbs. I think he is better suited for the Suits L.A. role, where he will play Ted Black, a powerful attorney in L.A. While his natural charisma could be a natural fit for Gibbs, he is also a subtly different performer from original actor Mark Harmon. This would create an inconsistency in characterization that would be difficult to ignore. I also think that even though Amell is an incredible actor, Stowell was better suited for the role of Gibbs and that each actor got the part that they were meant for.
NCIS: Origins Needed A Fresh Face To Play Young Gibbs
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Another complicating factor is Amell's history within the NCIS franchise. Although Gibbs would have been his first major role, Amell has surprisingly already played a minor part in NCIS: Los Angeles. In the episode "Bounty," Amell played Marine Gunnery Sergeant Andrew Weaver. If Amell had appeared in both roles, it would not have been the first time that NCIS reused the same performer, but it is not a good look for a professional franchise like NCIS to have it happen with a major character.
NCIS: Origins needed a new actor for Gibbs. As disappointing as it is that Amell did not get the role, I think NCIS: Origins made the right choice. It looks lazy when actors are recast for new roles in different shows of the same franchise and I am particularly excited to see how Stowell brings young Gibbs to life. He is one of several NCIS actors who played Gibbs so I am looking forward to seeing his take on the character.
Source: TVLine
