Eric Christian Olsen is officially heading back to the NCIS franchise, but fans should not expect Marty Deeks to walk through the door just yet. The NCIS: Los Angeles alum is returning behind the camera as an executive producer on the upcoming third season of NCIS: Origins for CBS.
Olsen will produce through his Cloud Nine Productions banner, adding another familiar franchise name to the creative team behind the prequel series. For longtime viewers, it is a smart and sentimental move: Olsen spent more than a decade helping define the tone, humor, and emotional pull of NCIS: Los Angeles, and now he is bringing that experience to the origin story of one of TV’s most enduring crime franchises.
Eric Christian Olsen Joins NCIS: Origins Season 3 Behind the Scenes
Olsen is best known to NCIS fans for playing LAPD liaison Marty Deeks on NCIS: Los Angeles, a role he carried from 2010 until the show wrapped in 2023. Deeks became a fan favorite thanks to his sharp wit, messy charm, and long-running romance with Kensi Blye, played by Daniela Ruah.
His new role on NCIS: Origins Season 3 puts him in a very different position. Rather than appearing on screen, Olsen will help shape the series as an executive producer. He joins the existing producing team on the CBS drama, which expands the NCIS universe by going back to the early career of Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
What NCIS: Origins Is About
NCIS: Origins is a prequel centered on a younger Gibbs, exploring his early days as a special agent before he became the stoic leader viewers met on the original NCIS. The series digs into the formative cases, relationships, and personal losses that helped create the Gibbs fans know so well.
The show has leaned into a more character-driven crime drama format, balancing weekly investigations with the emotional weight of Gibbs’ backstory. That makes Olsen’s addition especially interesting. His work on NCIS: Los Angeles often blended action, comedy, trauma, and team dynamics, which could be a strong fit for the tone Origins continues to build.
Why Olsen’s NCIS Return Matters to Fans
NCIS has always thrived on loyalty — both inside the story and among its audience. Bringing back a franchise veteran like Eric Christian Olsen signals that CBS is continuing to treat the NCIS universe as one connected creative family, even when characters are not crossing over on screen.
It also gives NCIS: Origins another producer who understands what viewers love about this world: procedural tension, long-term character arcs, workplace banter, and the kind of emotional payoff that keeps fans invested season after season.
Of course, this news will also restart the inevitable question: could Olsen ever return as Deeks in a future NCIS crossover? Nothing in this announcement confirms an on-camera appearance, but in a franchise built on surprise connections, fans will certainly keep hoping.
Where to Watch NCIS: Origins in the US, UK, and EU
NCIS: Origins airs on CBS in the United States, with episodes available to stream on Paramount+ where the service carries the series. Viewers in the UK and EU should check local Paramount+ listings or regional broadcasters, as availability can vary by country and release window.
Show: NCIS: Origins
Where to watch: CBS in the US and Paramount+ where available
When to watch: New episodes air during the CBS broadcast season, with streaming availability on Paramount+ depending on region.
Tags: #NCISOrigins #EricChristianOlsen #NCIS #ParamountPlus #CBS
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