NCIS is 20 years old: and to think that Jennifer Aniston almost became the star of the series

Initially, they also dreamed of Harrison Ford for the role of Gibbs.

On September 23, 2003, the American channel CBS launched a new crime series, derived from JAG. NCIS made its big debut on American TV and no one imagined then that it would become such a social phenomenon, becoming the biggest US series and still in the Top 5 in audiences after 20 years of existence!

However, the history of NCIS, recounted in an article in the Hollywood Reporter, could have been completely different. Because other actors were considered to play Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Caitlin Todd or even Ducky.

First of all, Harrison Ford was once imagined for the leading role! At that point in his film career, the actor had just released Appearances (by Robert Zemeckis) and was going to shoot Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. At the time, movie superstars didn’t really do TV and his name was circulated without much belief, as producer Charles Floyd explains: “Everyone thought of him when writing Gibbs because he was so perfect for the role. But I don’t think it ever went further; it was (just) a name that passed around like that between us…”

The producers then turned to Scott Glenn (the mentor of Daredevil in the Netflix series) who was a known face in American cinema at the turn of the century. Having just done Training Day by Antoine Fuqua and Vertical Limit, he was then “very strongly considered” for the role of Gibbs. But for casting director Susan Bluestein, she had made Mark Harmon his favorite: “He was on my list NCIS since the first day. I always felt like Mark really had the gravitas for this character.”

Mark Harmon ended up getting the job in the double episode of JAG who served as pilot for NCIS.

As for the girls, we remember the brief appearance of Robyn Lively in the pilot, she who played the special agent of the NCIS Vivian Blackadder. Except that she didn’t convince and the producers even believed that she didn’t have “not really worked” for the role. As a result, his character was cut and that of Caitlin Todd has been created. To bring to life the first female role in the crime series, the bosses of the show thought of Jennifer Aniston – whose series Friends was going to end at that time. “His name floated around for a while”, assures Johnson. But ultimately, the deal was too complicated and the actress was more interested in cinema. THE NCIS therefore cast a face of Dawson, Sasha Alexander.

As for supporting roles, the role of Ducky was almost recast. The studio was hesitant to sign David McCallumwhich he found to be “an old actor” of The Man Frome UNCLE Scott Glenn (the same) was once mentioned. But creator Don Bellisario lobbied for it to stay: “If you don’t keep it, we won’t make the series.”

Finally, the producers return to the sudden departure of Pauley Perrette. After 15 seasons, Abby left the NCIS by slamming the door and Johnson confirms that “ an incident » with a dog that Mark Harmon had brought to the set caused his hasty exit. He allegedly bit someone and that was the catalyst for his departure. After filing a complaint,At the end of that year, (Pauley) just felt like it wasn’t working for her anymore and it was time to move on.”

THE NCIS continues today without her. Without Mark Harmon. Without Caitlin Todd. Season 21, delayed by the strike, will be released in 2024. Ducky is still here!