NCIS: New York, the newest expansion of the No. 1 TV franchise in the world, premieres on CBS on Tuesday, Oct. 6. It opens with NCIS Special Agent Sam Hanna (LL COOL J) returning to his hometown of New York City when Sam’s friend and Navy reservist Jack Halloway is found dead.
Sam requests permission from Assistant Special Agent-In-Charge Robyn Wells (Jennifer Beals) of the New York NCIS office to investigate his friend’s death. Robyn agrees and pairs Sam with roguish agent Nick Schaeffer (Scott Caan), who introduces him to the rest of the team: clean-cut Wyatt Sellers (Shane Harper), bright-eyed Addy Ross (Jacqueline Byers) and hacker-turned-computer guy Sean Sullivan (Devin Druid). As the team investigates Jack’s death, they work together to gather key information that can help find the culprit.
“We have been tasked with continuing this beloved franchise, and we’re doing that, but we’re doing it in our own way,” says showrunner Byron Balasco during the CBS Fall 2026 Virtual Press Day. “We’re lucky enough to shoot in New York, so we’re going to really show the city with character-forward cases that are tense and really exploring every kind of nook and cranny of New York in the five boroughs…Our goal is to honor the franchise but make a show that can live on its own.”
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In the end, Sam realizes he likes being back home, so he joins the New York field office, which is tasked with high-stakes missions to defend one of the most vital cities and ports in the world.
“New York is a main character,” LL COOL J says. “So doing it in New York, it really feels different. I’m not going to say better, but I’ll say it’s definitely grittier. It’s definitely a whole new iteration of the franchise, and I think it’s a great contribution to the universe. New York is a character. It gives you so many different people from all over the world, so many different types of energies. You’re very close to the street when you film in New York. It’s not like L.A. L.A. is a little more used to seeing people film. Here in New York, we’re like right next to the guy next door. So, it’s a whole different energy, and I think it’s a lot of fun. I’m seeing parts of New York I never saw, and I was born and raised here, so it’s cool.”
Here’s everything we know so far about the premiere season of NCIS: New York.
When will NCIS: New York be released?
NCIS: New York premieres Tuesday, Oct. 6.
What time will NCIS: New York air?
NCIS: New York will air at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.
Who is in the NCIS: New York cast?
LL Cool J as Special Agent Sam Hanna
Photo: Michael Greenberg/CBS
Scott Caan as Special Agent Nick Schaeffer
Photo: Michael Greenberg/CBS
Jennifer Beals as Assistant Special Agent in Charge Robyn Wells
Photo: Michael Greenberg/CBS
Jacqueline Byers as Special Agent Addison “Addy” Ross
Photo: Michael Greenberg/CBS
Shane Harper as Special Agent Wyatt Sellers
Photo: Michael Greenberg/CBS
Devin Druid as Tech Specialist Sean Sullivan
Photo: Michael Greenberg/CBS
Related: LL Cool J Finally Explains Why Sam Hanna Left Callen Behind for NCIS: New York
Who are the NCIS: New York characters?
Special Agent Sam Hanna
Sam Hanna spent 14 seasons as a Senior Field Special Agent stationed in Los Angeles, partnered closely with Special Agent G. Callen (Chris O’Donnell), but at the end of the NCIS: Los Angeles series Sam began working more as a roving agent, taking assignments around the world, including spending time on NCIS: Hawai’i.
“Sam ended up traveling and becoming this kind of special OPS guy who would do special operations for different people around the world,” LL COOL J told Parade during the CBS Fall 2026 Virtual Press Day. “He definitely does tap in with Callen from time to time. He talks about him sometimes in some of the episodes.”
On the personal side, Sam is a single parent to son Aiden and daughter Kamran. His late wife, Michelle Hanna [Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor], a former CIA officer, who was tragically killed while working on an assignment with NCIS.
Special Agent Nick Schaeffer
Nick Schaeffer is a roguish NCIS Special Agent and a native New Yorker, as well as Sam Hanna’s new partner.
“Working with Todd [LL COOL J] and working with Byron and ultimately everybody that ended up getting on board, it was kind of a no-brainer for me,” Caan says about joining the cast. “I’ve always been a fan of Todd’s and we’ve always gotten along really well, so when there was an opportunity to work with him and work with Byron, that came first before thinking about character at all. That’s what did it for me.”
[Note: LL COOL J and Caan worked together when NCIS: Los Angles and Hawaii Five-0 did a crossover episode. Of course, this is a different character for Caan.]
Assistant Special Agent in Charge Robyn Wells
Robyn Wells is the director of the NCIS New York field office who leads with her intuition and is widely respected by her team.
Special Agent Addison “Addy” Ross
Addy Ross is a rock-solid, tough and resourceful agent with something to prove.
Special Agent Wyatt Sellers
Wyatt Sellers is fearless, sharp, and highly skilled in the field and a hopeless romantic.
Tech Specialist Sean Sullivan
Sean Sullivan is witty and brilliant but resistant to authority. He is only part of NCIS as an option to avoid going to jail. He was brought in by Robyn Wells, who gave him that option rather than arresting him for his work as a hacker.
Related: A 1980s Icon Just Joined NCIS: New York — And Fans Are Already Thrilled
Are there any spoilers for NCIS: New York Season 1?
Characters from other iterations of the franchise will be appearing on NCIS: New York so there will be crossovers from past and current characters. One that was confirmed by Balasco was “we’ve got Jimmy Palmer popping up right away. Fans will be excited to see him. Brian Dietzen is a great guy, a great actor, and then more are planned, but you’ll have to stay tuned for that.”
What does NCIS stand for?
When the series premiered, it was originally called Navy NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service, which was later shortened to NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and then, once everyone knew what NCIS stood for, the series simply became NCIS.
How to watch and stream NCIS: New York Season 1 on TV and online
New episodes of NCIS will air Tuesday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS and stream next day on Paramount+.
Next, Mark Harmon Is Making a Full-Time Return to the NCIS Universe For an Entire Season