The Chi‘s Tyla Abercrumbie joins NCIS: Origins Prequel Series
TVLine reports that The Chi‘s Tyla Abercrumbie has joined the cast of CBS‘ NCIS: Origins prequel spinoff series as a series regular along with The Blacklist alum Diany Rodriguez. They join a cast that includes Austin Stowell, Kyle Schmid, and Mariel Molino.
Set in the early 1990s, the series will follow a young version of Mark Harmon’s longtime NCIS protagonist, Leroy Jethro Gibbs (to be played by Austin Stowell), as a new agent at the NCIS Camp Pendleton office. The show will chronicle Gibbs’ early career as he forges his own path on a team led by NCIS legend Mike Franks (SIX‘s Kyle Schmid).
Abercrumbie meanwhile will play Field Operation Support Officer Mary Jo Sullivan, a “mama bear” who has wryly dubbed herself “HSIC” — Head Secretary in Charge.
As reported by Deadline, Rodriguez will play Special Agent Vera Strickland, “a no-nonsense, sharp-witted Brooklynite who’s tough as nails and never minces words.” (The character of of Strickland was originated by Nip/Tuck‘s Roma Maffia a decade ago, in the Season 11 NCIS installment “Under the Radar.”)
Molino will play Special Agent Lala Dominguez, a former Marine with a dark sense of humor who will share “sparks” with Gibbs.
Mark Harmon will not appear in NCIS: Origins, but he will serve as its narrator as well as executive producer. His son, Sean Harmon, who has played Young Gibbs in NCIS flashbacks and came up with the idea for the prequel, will also serve as an EP alongside co-showrunners Gina Lucita Monreal and David J. North.
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.