LL Cool J Returns as Sam Hanna in New CBS Spinoff NCIS: New York

CBS is expanding the NCIS universe once again, officially ordering a brand-new series, NCIS: New York, for the 2026–27 television season. The biggest surprise? LL Cool J is returning as Special Agent Sam Hanna, bringing back one of the franchise’s most beloved characters.

The actor and rapper originally portrayed Sam Hanna throughout all 14 seasons of NCIS: Los Angeles, which concluded in 2023. Since then, he has made guest appearances on both NCIS and NCIS: Hawai’i, and fans will now see him take center stage in his own series.

What Is NCIS: New York About?

The upcoming drama follows Sam Hanna as he returns to his hometown of New York City to join the local NCIS field office. There, he teams up with a fearless new partner and helps lead a specialized unit handling high-risk investigations designed to protect one of the world’s busiest cities and most important ports.

Scott Caan Joins the Cast

Joining LL Cool J is Scott Caan, who will play the bold and unconventional agent working alongside Sam Hanna. The series is expected to blend action, suspense, and character-driven storytelling while introducing a fresh team of investigators.

The show is executive produced by R. Scott Gemmill, Byron Balasco, Jason Barrett, and LL Cool J. Balasco will also serve as showrunner, while Gemmill—who spent all 14 seasons writing for NCIS: Los Angeles and served as its showrunner for seven seasons—wrote the pilot episode.

CBS Expands the NCIS Franchise

CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach said the network remains committed to growing its strongest franchises, with NCIS: New York playing a major role in the upcoming television lineup.

She also praised LL Cool J’s continued connection to the network, noting that his recent guest appearances on NCIS were well received by viewers. According to Reisenbach, bringing Sam Hanna back to New York, where the character originally comes from, creates exciting new storytelling opportunities.

When Will NCIS: New York Premiere?

The new series will become part of CBS’s Tuesday night “NCIS Night” lineup.

The schedule will feature:

• 8:00–9:00 PM: NCIS
• 9:00–10:00 PM: NCIS: New York
• 10:00–11:00 PM: NCIS: Origins

Later in the season, NCIS: Sydney will move into the final time slot, replacing NCIS: Origins.

CBS has not yet announced an official premiere date for NCIS: New York, but the highly anticipated series is expected to debut during the network’s Fall 2026 schedule.