Season 2 of NCIS – Origins will feature a unique episode honoring David McCallum, the actor who portrayed Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard for the initial 20 seasons of the main NCIS Series prior to his passing in 2023. This tribute episode Titled The Edge, will showcase Adam Campbell returning to his role as young Ducky, a character he has portrayed as a guest star in four episodes during the series of NCIS.
According to the official logline for the episode, “Ducky is dispatched to Camp Pendleton to observe the team as they tackle a case, and during this time, he rekindles his connection with Gibbs, whom he encountered years ago.”
The episode takes it’s name from McCallum’s song, which shares the same title and will be included in the episode. This instrumental track was released by Capitol Records in 1996 and is famously recognized as the sample used in the introduction of Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s popular 2000 single, The Next Episode.
According to the showrunners of NCIS – Origins Gina Lucita Monreal and David J. North, “This episode is dedicated to the cherished memory of our dear friend David McCallum. David was a treasured part of the NCIS family for many years, and we feel incredibly fortunate to have the talented Adam Campbell returning to portray the younger version of this iconic character once more. We even had the opportunity to include David’s music in the episode. Our excitement is palpable, and we eagerly anticipate the fans experiencing it!”
NCIS – Origins features narration by Mark Harmon, the original star of NCIS, who first portrayed Leroy Jethro Gibbs. The show showcases Austin Stowell as a young Gibbs set in the early ’90s.
In Season 2, the focus shifts to the NCIS Camp Pendleton Team, under the leadership of Mike Franks (played by Muse Watson in the original season, with Kyle Schmid taking on the role in the young Origins version), highlighting Gibbs’ formative years as a special agent.
Monreal and North are the executive producers of NCIS – Origins, working alongside Harmon and Sean Harmon, with CBS Studios handling the production of the series. The highly anticipated Season 2 is set to premiere on October 14, 2025.