[UPDATES AS THEY HAPPEN - IN BOLD]
So what do we know about... the new NCIS spin-off?
CBS is very positive in relation to expanding their franchise opportunities - and giving the settling of a recent lawsuit with original creator Donald Bellisario as to what constitutes a spin-off from his original JAG creation - it's okay to describe the history as JAG begat NCIS begat NCIS:LA and, come the Autumn/Fall, the next incarnation will be NCIS: RED. The show will be about what could be considered 'free-range' agents - not tied to one locale and taking assignments together that take them across America, working as a team despite their different personalities..
The series, the brain-child of current NCIS supremo Shane Brennan, will introduce its remit and main cast in a special two-part episode entitled 'RED' featuring in the LA strand of the NCISverse due for broadcast this spring. It comes at a time when the main NCIS show is remaining a massive ratings juggernaut - now in its tenth year and pulling i strong numbers, bucking the current trend of many shows losing pace.
The NCIS: RED cast are starting to be announced and the main players so far are (left to right above):
John Corbett (Sex in the City, Northern Exposure) as Analyst Roy Quaid, who was forced to retire from field operations but remains the most experienced and veteran member of the team.
Edwin Hodge (Leverage, Red Dawn, Mental) as Kai Ashe, the most tech-savvy member of the team.He appeared in another role on the NCIS series earlier this season. Fans will also remember his guest-spot on leverage where he appeared with his real-life brother, regular cast member Aldis Hodge ( aka 'Hardison')
Miguel Ferrer - who plays Assistant Director Owen Granger - is being 'promoted' to series regular on NCIS: LA from the autumn season, but it's planned that he will also feature prominently in 'RED'
UPDATE 8th February : ER actor Nick Grimes was announced as another member of the cast on 8th February. He will play agent Nick Grimes, who is described as being ' a highly capable agent with an eye for clues, a nose for lies and who is the team's forensic specialist...'
UPDATE 9th February : Gillian Alexy will play Special Agent Claire, described as being 'educated, worldly, athletic and as tough as she is beautiful...' The character wil be a high-performing, highly-trained agent with a strong military background.
UPDATE 11h February: Kim Raver - best known for her roles on Grey’s Anatomy and 24 actress will play Special Agent Paris, described as the '... athletic, smart, witty and bold leader of the Red team. Paris has a Degree in Forensic Science, can drive a golf ball 300 yards and has a brain snapping IQ in the 98th percentile. She prefers to, and often does, work alone'
Presuming that everything moves ahead with approval, filming will begin soon for the series proper, aiming for a Sep/Oct premiere on the CBS schedules in the US. No UK airdate is known as yet.
