The Backstory of Sam Hanna Spinoff With LL Cool J
Deadline • • entertainment
Key Points:
- CBS announced a new NCIS spinoff titled NCIS: New York, starring LL Cool J reprising his role as Sam Hanna alongside Scott Caan, marking a rare instance of a lead actor playing the same character in multiple franchise spinoffs.
- The series was developed rapidly within five months, with key creative personnel including Emmy-winning writer R. Scott Gemmill, who has a long history with NCIS: Los Angeles, initially drafting the script before Byron Balasco was named showrunner.
- NCIS: New York is set in Sam Hanna’s hometown of New York City and will feature a new team tackling high-stakes missions; filming is expected to take place in and around New York.
- The show continues CBS’s recent strategy of launching franchise extensions, following several successful NCIS spinoffs and other franchise series that have dominated CBS’s new series ratings over the past few seasons.
- LL Cool J’s 17-year tenure as Sam Hanna underscores his character’s appeal as a heroic figure, and the new series aims to blend action with witty banter and a strong sense of New York culture.
