LL Cool J is bringing Sam Hanna back to television, and this time the story hits much closer to home. The NCIS: Los Angeles alum will lead the new CBS spinoff NCIS: New York, premiering October 6, and he’s opening up about the deeply personal reason his character returns to his hometown after years away. The actor and rapper has played Sam Hanna for roughly 17 years across multiple NCIS series, and his latest chapter promises a darker, more emotional journey than viewers have seen before.
A Personal Loss Brings Sam Hanna Back to New York
The new spinoff’s story kicks off with tragedy. According to the official synopsis, Sam Hanna returns to New York City to investigate the death of his friend and Navy reservist Jack Halloway. The case is not just another assignment for the veteran agent. It is a chance to confront something he feels he missed while working high-stakes solo missions around the globe.
In an interview with Deadline, LL Cool J explained that Sam was in Dubai when he received a call from someone very important to him. He could not take that call, and the consequences were devastating.
“He realizes missing that call might have put this person in jeopardy. So that brings him back to New York. It’s a very emotional reason. It’s a very close personal case to him. So he feels like he needs to go to New York and handle this one himself.”
— LL Cool J to Deadline
The identity of the caller has not been officially confirmed, but the timing lines up with the death of Jack Halloway, suggesting the missed call may have been from his friend. For Sam, solving this case is not just about justice. It is about redemption after years of putting the mission above everything else.
“He’s a man looking for redemption in many ways because of different things that he’s been through over the course of his career in law enforcement. It’s pretty special and a great contribution to the NCIS Universe in general.”
— LL Cool J
The NCIS: New York pilot will fill in the gaps from Sam’s time in Dubai. Fans last saw him in the NCIS: Hawai’i finale, where he had a going-away party and said goodbye to that team. Before that, NCIS: Los Angeles ended in 2023 after 14 seasons. Sam’s journey since then has been anything but settled.
Sam Hanna Feels Like a Stranger in His Own Hometown
Returning to New York is not a simple homecoming for Sam Hanna. The city has changed, and so has he. LL Cool J told TV Insider that while the character is finally back home, the adjustment is far from easy.
“It’s his hometown, but the places, the faces have changed. He’s going to have to get his feet wet and figure out what it means to be back in New York. That’s the interesting thing about a character like this: He’s flawed and he’s been away and he’s going to have to find his way. This is an opportunity for him to find redemption.”
— LL Cool J to TV Insider
Showrunner Byron Balasco added that the spinoff will explore who Sam was before viewers met him in Los Angeles.
“You’ll see who Sam was before you met him in L.A. a little bit and the connections he had to the city and the people there that made him and the responsibilities that home brings out in people.”
— Byron Balasco to TV Insider
The actor also described New York as a character in its own right. In his Deadline interview, he said the show is “a lot grittier” and “more character-driven” than previous NCIS entries, with the city itself serving as “the main character and the star.”
A New Team and a New Partner for Sam Hanna
Sam Hanna is not working alone in New York. He partners with Scott Caan‘s Nick Schaeffer, described in the official logline as a “roguish agent.” The two lead a new team at the NCIS New York field office under Assistant Special Agent-In-Charge Robyn Wells, played by Jennifer Beals.
The rest of the team includes:
- Jacqueline Byers as Special Agent Addison “Addy” Ross
- Shane Harper as Special Agent Wyatt Hill
- Devin Druid as tech specialist Sean Sullivan
Scott Caan is best known for playing Detective Danny “Danno” Williams on Hawaii Five-0 for 10 seasons. Caan told Entertainment Weekly that he never imagined doing a show like this, but the call from CBS was impossible to refuse.
“When CBS calls, it’s generally gonna be something good. And working with [LL] was a no-brainer. I didn’t imagine I’d be doing a show like this, but literally the second I got the call, I was like, ‘Yeah, you can’t say no to this, this is too good.’”
— Scott Caan to Entertainment Weekly
Caan also revealed that reprising his Hawaii Five-0 role was “considered,” but he preferred a “fresh, clean start.”
Behind the Scenes: The Team Bringing New York to Life
NCIS: New York comes from CBS Studios and is the eighth show in the NCIS franchise. R. Scott Gemmill, who previously worked as showrunner on NCIS: Los Angeles, wrote the pilot and executive produces alongside Byron Balasco, LL Cool J, and Jason Barrett.
LL Cool J serves as an executive producer on the series. He told Entertainment Weekly that his first call when the New York spinoff came up was to Gemmill.
“I couldn’t imagine getting this teed up without Scott. He understands the universe and how to be true to it.”
— LL Cool J to Entertainment Weekly
The series films in New York City, marking the first time LL Cool J has filmed in the city over the course of his long career. He told Entertainment Weekly that the experience feels like being “thrust back into the belly of the beast.”
When and Where to Watch NCIS New York
NCIS: New York premieres on Tuesday, October 6, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. The show will air in the timeslot between the flagship NCIS series and NCIS: Origins.
For viewers in the United States, the series airs on CBS and streams on Paramount+. In Canada, it will be available through Global TV and Paramount+ Canada. For UK audiences, Disney+ carries the NCIS franchise, and a release on the platform is expected to follow the U.S. premiere. Australian viewers can watch NCIS shows on Disney+ and Paramount+ Australia. In India, JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar carry NCIS titles. Global streaming dates may vary by region, so fans should check local listings.
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Fan Reactions Are Mixed But Hopeful
The announcement of NCIS: New York has sparked strong reactions online. Not all of them have been positive. According to CinemaBlend, some fans used social media to campaign for the return of canceled shows like NCIS: Tony & Ziva and NCIS: Hawai’i instead of celebrating the new spinoff.
Supporters, however, see the pairing of LL Cool J and Scott Caan as a promising new direction for the franchise. Many have expressed excitement about seeing Sam Hanna back in a leading role after his guest appearances across the NCIS universe.
LL Cool J himself remains enthusiastic about the character he has played for nearly two decades. He told TV Insider that what keeps him coming back is simple.
“I think he’s a hero, and he does things in his life that Todd would never do in his life.”
— LL Cool J to TV Insider
With a personal case, a new city, and a fresh team, Sam Hanna‘s return to New York is shaping up to be one of the most emotional chapters in the NCIS franchise’s history. The character has been through a lot, and his homecoming is about more than just solving crimes. It is about finding himself again in a city that has moved on without him.
Also Read: NCIS New York Spinoff Ordered at CBS With LL Cool J and Scott Caan Starring
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