10-year NCIS franchise veteran recast is officially revealed.

The NCIS franchise tried to be more creative with its expansion projects in the last few years. Instead of simply launching a new show set in a different place, they tried their hand on character-centered offshoots, such as NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Tony & Ziva. However, when it returns for CBS’s fall 2026 lineup, it will go back to basics thanks to its latest spinoff that will see the return of Sam Hanna’s LL Cool J in his hometown of New York.

When NCIS: New York premieres, the former Los Angeles-based agent will be joined by Jennifer Beals, Jacqueline Byers, Shane Harper, and Devin Druid. Amid those new faces, arguably the most exciting addition is Scott Caan, who rounds out the cast as Sam’s new partner. CBS’s decision to cast him has been a favorite talking point among fans, as the actor previously portrayed Danny Williams in Hawaii Five-0, which was well-established to be part of the NCIS universe.

Caan’s character was nameless months after the offshoot was announced, but NCIS‘s official Instagram has officially confirmed his name — Nick Schaeffer. The video takes viewers inside the production of NCIS: New York, which has been filming on location in New York for a couple of weeks now. Check out the clip below:

Previously, photos and videos from the set of NCIS: New York offered the first-look at Caan’s return to the franchise. However, this marks the official reveal of his name and confirmation that the actor is indeed playing a different character. Admittedly, there were hopes that Caan’s return would simply mean that he would be reprising his role as Williams. That way, NCIS doesn’t have to break a cardinal rule that its franchise has followed for major characters in its over three-decade history. It’s curious why CBS decided to recast the actor, especially since Williams and Sam had the experience of working together during the NCIS: Los Angeles and Hawaii Five-0 crossover.

For what it’s worth, NCIS could have just kept Williams as Caan’s character and come up with a new story that would explain why he’s back on the East Coast after years of being stationed in Hawaii. That route isn’t dissimilar with what happened with Sam anyway, and could have been a point of commonality between them. Arguably, that would have been an easier narrative route than asking its viewers to come to terms that LL Cool J’s character has a history with Williams. Hopefully, the Eye Network has a strong reasoning for this.

NCIS‘s Super Tuesday lineup isn’t due to release fresh episodes for several more weeks. That said, with all three shows now in production, expect more information about them moving forward — whether that’ll be from CBS or the actors themselves. Regardless, any morsel of information would help viewers cope with the ongoing break.

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  Created by

  Donald P. Bellisario, Don McGill

  First TV Show

  NCIS

  Latest TV Show

  NCIS: Sydney

  Upcoming TV Shows

  NCIS: Origins, NCIS: Tony & Ziva

  First Episode Air Date

  
  September 23, 2003
  

  Cast

  Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, Pauley Perrette, Cote de Pablo, Sean Murray, Rocky Carroll, Brian Dietzen, Wilmer Valderrama

  The NCIS franchise is an American media franchise that focuses on military-related criminal investigations by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. It began with NCIS in 2003, a spin-off from JAG, and has since expanded to include multiple spin-offs set across different locations.

  
  

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  NCIS: New York
  

  
  

  Release Date

  October 6, 2026
  

  Cast

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    Scott Caan

    Nick Schaeffer

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    Jennifer Beals

    Robyn Wells

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    Jacqueline Byers

    Addison Ross