AceShowbiz - The enduring popularity of the CBS procedural NCIS continues to fuel expansions within its franchise universe. After decades of success with the flagship series, CBS broadened the scope with spinoffs like NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: New Orleans.

The seven-season run of NCIS: New Orleans began with a backdoor pilot that reunited Leroy Jethro Gibbs and Dwayne Pride for a case tied to their shared past. This backstory revealed that both characters had been part of an elite group called the Fed Five, a team of highly accomplished NIS agents active in the early 1990s, alongside Mike Franks. Now, CBS is revisiting this era with NCIS: Origins, the franchise’s very first prequel series, which delves into Gibbs' formative years at the agency, including his time with the Fed Five.

Recently, CBS released a trailer for NCIS: Origins season 2, episode 11, titled "Feelin' Alright?," unveiling the first look at a young Dwayne Pride. Shea Buckner joins the cast as the recast version of King in this prequel timeline.

The official episode synopsis outlines a case centered around investigating a potential link to an international smuggling ring. To assist, NIS Panama agents are brought in, including the newly minted Probationary Special Agent Pride, who is assigned to a different unit. The trailer features flashbacks to an earlier encounter between Pride and Franks, marked by tension and a brawl, highlighting ongoing conflicts that persist upon their reunion at Camp Pendleton.

Buckner’s inclusion as the young Pride is part of a larger narrative arc setting up the legendary exploits of the Fed Five team. Alongside Pride and Franks, the team also includes Felix Betts and Dan McLane. With the confirmation of NCIS: Origins season 3, the prequel has opportunity to explore the team’s specialized missions.

However, as the 2025-2026 TV season has limited episodes remaining, the series must balance its storytelling to do justice to the Fed Five’s pursuits. Removing central characters like Gibbs and Franks from their Camp Pendleton base for extended storylines would disrupt ongoing plotlines in the series.

What makes NCIS: Origins intriguing is how it will portray the Fed Five’s operations, which appear to have functioned independently from their respective teams. This dynamic presents a storytelling challenge: the show must depict their specialized missions while maintaining the narrative threads centered on Camp Pendleton. Moreover, this storyline marks a significant timeline progression for the series. It will need to advance Gibbs' story rather than prolonging this earlier period, ensuring consistency with the established NCIS canon.

The introduction of a young Dwayne Pride alongside established characters like Mike Franks and Leroy Jethro Gibbs (portrayed in the prequel by Austin Stowell and Kyle Schmid, respectively) looks into the origins of these agents. As the series continues, viewers can see how these characters shaped the early days of the agency.

With the ongoing development of NCIS: Origins and the recasting of key roles, CBS is expanding the franchise’s lore while maintaining fidelity to its characters and timeline.