LL Cool J returns to CBS this fall in NCIS: New York, premiering on October 6, 2026. Reprising his role as Special Agent Sam Hanna, he teams up with a New York crew led by Jennifer Beals and Scott Caan, bringing a grittier edge and a deeply personal homecoming mission to the franchise.
Sam Hanna Returns Home in NCIS: New York
Set to premiere on Tuesday, October 6, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS, the series brings the character back to the Big Apple following events in Dubai at the end of the previous season. The newest addition to the television franchise finds Special Agent Sam Hanna leaving behind his lone-wolf global assignments for a high-stakes return to his hometown.
Showrunner Byron Balasco explained that Sam receives an urgent call from someone very important to him while finishing a solo mission abroad. Realizing that missing the call might place that person in peril, Sam heads to New York to handle the matter personally. According to the source, the city itself serves as a major focal point for the narrative.
“New York is totally different; it’s a lot grittier, it’s more character-driven. New York is the main character and the star.”
LL Cool J, star and executive producer, via Deadline
Sam Hanna Joins a New Unit
The series pilot kicks off when Navy reservist and friend Jack Halloway is found dead, prompting Sam to request permission to investigate. In New York, Sam joins a specialized unit headed by Assistant Special Agent-In-Charge Robyn Wells, played by Jennifer Beals.
Balasco noted that Wells approaches leadership with deep sensitivity toward her team and their cases, balancing professionalism with individual mentorship while facing her own internal conflicts about future ambitions within the agency.
Wells pairs Sam with roguish agent Nick Schaeffer, played by Scott Caan. The ensemble is rounded out by clean-cut Wyatt Sellers, portrayed by Shane Harper, bright-eyed Addy Ross, played by Jacqueline Byers, and hacker-turned-computer guy Sean Sullivan, played by Devin Druid.
“Nick is more extroverted, more kind of outwardly in your face, whereas Sam’s a little introverted. It’s a constant battle between Nick getting Sam to open up while Sam resists.”
Byron Balasco, showrunner, via Deadline
PaleyFest Fall TV Previews Panel Details
James Todd Smith discussed the emotional core driving the procedural during a panel discussion at the 2026 PaleyFest Fall TV Previews event on September 15. He emphasized that despite a slightly darker tone compared to other entries in the franchise, the series ultimately aims to deliver a positive message where viewers can see justice prevail.
“Like, at the end of the day, at the end of the day, we just want to have fun. I just want people to be able to watch television, forget about their problems and the pain and the things that they’re going through and just have a moment to just see the good guys win.”
LL Cool J, actor, via Cheat Sheet
Production took the cast and crew to unfamiliar neighborhoods, exposing lifelong residents to new facets of the metropolis. For the actor, returning to film in his native city provided an unexpected educational experience.
“Even me as a native New Yorker, we’re going to parts of New York I’ve never seen. So, there’s a lot of people who claim to be New Yorkers who’ve never really seen New York. This is like a whole education for us.”
LL Cool J, actor, via Cheat Sheet
Gemmill Returns to Television for Paramount+ Project
Developed by R. Scott Gemmill and Balasco, the project marks Gemmill’s return to the television universe after serving as showrunner on NCIS: Los Angeles. Episodes will also be available to stream on Paramount+ following their broadcast debut.
Will Chris O’Donnell and Eric Christian-Olson make crossover appearances?
