NCIS is bringing back a familiar face — and it could finally lead to answers about Hetty Lange.
With the franchise shifting after the endings of NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: Hawai‘i, crossovers have kept the universe connected. Now, LL Cool J is officially returning as Sam Hanna, this time on the flagship NCIS.
Hanna is set to appear in Season 22, Episode 18, airing April 21, where he’ll assist on a case and reunite with the main team. While plot details remain under wraps, fans are already speculating the appearance could connect to unresolved storylines — especially the cliffhanger involving Jane Tennant.
But the biggest question is Hetty.
Linda Hunt’s character was largely absent in the later NCIS: Los Angeles seasons, and the finale teased a mission to find her without showing what happened next. Sam’s return opens the door for long-awaited answers — even if it’s just an update — giving fans hope that one of the franchise’s biggest mysteries may finally be addressed.