CBS Announces LL Cool J to Headline New NCIS Series in Fall 2026 Schedule

CBS Unveils 2026 Fall Schedule with New NCIS Series CBS executives announced on April 15 that LL Cool J will headline 'NCIS: New York' in the 2026 CBS fall schedule on Tuesday nights at 9 ET/PT.

The series stars LL Cool J reprising the role of Special Agent Sam Hanna, who returns to New York City after starring in all 14 seasons of 'NCIS: Los Angeles' from 2009 to 2023. Sam Hanna will be partnered with a special agent played by Scott Caan, who will portray a new character.

The flagship 'NCIS' series, which premiered on CBS in 2003, will air at 8 ET/PT on Tuesday nights in fall 2026 and debut its 24th season.

'NCIS: Origins' will air at 10 ET/PT on Tuesday nights in fall 2026, marking Season 3. 'NCIS: Sydney' will air in midseason on Tuesdays at 10 ET/PT, marking Season 4. LL Cool J starred on 'NCIS: Los Angeles' for 323 episodes from 2009 to 2023.

He appeared in four episodes of the flagship 'NCIS' series and 12 episodes of 'NCIS: Hawai'i,' which was canceled in 2024. LL Cool J will guest star in two upcoming 'NCIS' episodes on April 21 and April 28, and the flagship series celebrated its 500-episode milestone.

Scott Caan played Danny 'Danno' Williams in 'Hawaii Five-0' for all ten seasons from 2010 to 2020 and appeared in an 'NCIS: Los Angeles' episode during a crossover.

The pilot for 'NCIS: New York' was written by Scott Gemmill, who wrote on all 14 seasons of 'NCIS: Los Angeles' and served as showrunner for seven seasons. ' News of 'NCIS: New York' came from a press briefing in Los Angeles on April 15. CBS has greenlit the series starring LL Cool J and Scott Caan, set in New York City, to premiere in fall 2026.

“'LL is like a member of the CBS family,' said Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment, at the unveiling of CBS' 2026-27 schedule. > 'There's a huge port and Navy presence in New York City. It just makes creative sense. We thought there was so much opportunity with this series,' said Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment. > 'LL is like a member of our family at CBS, and he’s done pop-ins at NCIS the last two years, and it’s been really successful,' said Amy Reisenbach, CBS Entertainment president. 'And the opportunity for Sam Hanna — who is originally from New York but lived in LA for NCIS: LA — to send him back home felt like a really ripe creative space to play in,' said Amy Reisenbach, CBS Entertainment president.”

Additional CBS Programming in Fall 2026 The new legal drama 'Cupertino' is about a wronged lawyer played by Mike Colter partnering with a young attorney played by Rachel Keller to battle Silicon Valley giants. 'Cupertino' is created by Robert and Michelle King, who brought 'The Good Wife' to CBS from 2009 to 2016. 'Cupertino' will air on CBS Thursdays at 10 ET/PT. > 'The Kings are the perfect showrunners to tell timely legal stories of this AI and tech-driven world,' said George Cheeks, CEO of CBS. The vampire comedy 'Eternally Yours' is made by executive producers Joe Port and Joe Wiseman of 'Ghosts.' 'Eternally Yours' follows two vampires married for 500 years and their struggles to accept the human dating their undead daughter. 'Eternally Yours' will begin on Thursdays at 8:30 ET/PT. Luke Grimes stars in 'Marshals,' a 'Yellowstone' spinoff. 'Marshals' remains in the Sunday at 8 ET/PT slot in fall 2026 after premiering on March 1. 'Marshals' had 26.5 million viewers on CBS and Paramount+ over 28 days and was the second most watched series premiere of the TV season; the final season of Netflix’s 'Stranger Things' had 30.6 million viewers after 28 days. CBS will release a 'Ghosts' Halloween and Christmas special later this year. CBS will hold 'Ghosts' Season 6 until 2027.