Special Agent Sam Hanna returns to his hometown in NCIS: New York, premiering October 6 on CBS, as LL Cool J joins a brand-new investigative unit led by Jennifer Beals and partnered with Scott Caan.
Scheduled for Tuesday, October 6, at 9 p.m. ET on CBS and streaming on Paramount+, LL Cool J reprises his role as Sam Hanna, transitioning from global high-stakes missions to the streets of New York City.
When the television institution returns this fall, the series debut pairs the veteran operative with local detective and enforcement figures as the narrative establishes a gritty, character-driven tone distinct from previous iterations.
Sam Hanna Investigates a Suspicious Death
It’s a very emotional reason.
It’s a very close personal case to him.
Rather than dropping into familiar agency headquarters, Hanna requests permission from Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Robyn Wells to investigate the suspicious death of his friend and Navy reservist Jack Halloway, a tugboat captain whose alleged suicide kicks off the pilot episode.
Scott Caan and LL Cool J Lead a New Ensemble Cast
Upon launching the inquiry into Halloway’s death, Robyn Wells assigns Hanna a temporary partner: Nick Schaeffer, played by Scott Caan.
- Addy Ross (Jacqueline Byers): Described in the team introduction as the “main brain,” combining intelligence with a sharp edge.
- Wyatt Sellers (Shane Harper): A clean-cut transplant from Alaska nicknamed “Milkman” due to his penchant for drinking large glasses of whole milk at restaurants.
- Sean Sullivan (Devin Druid): A technical operator and former computer hacker characterized by eccentric habits and exceptional digital skills.
Caan brings past franchise experience to the role, having previously crossed over his Hawaii Five-0 character Danny Williams into NCIS: Los Angeles back in May 2012.
However, Schaeffer is an entirely new creation designed specifically for the New York setting.
Production Films Across the Five Boroughs
Unlike productions that rely on soundstages or stand-in cities, the new series commits heavily to authentic New York geography.
For LL Cool J, who is a native New Yorker, the production offered an unexpected form of urban education. We’re going to parts of New York I’ve never seen,
he noted during a PaleyFest Fall TV Previews panel discussion. So, there’s a lot of people who claim to be New Yorkers who’ve never really seen New York.
Showrunner Byron Balasco pointed out that capturing the city’s unpredictable weather presented practical hurdles during principal photography, but the visual payoff outweighed the logistical friction. The goal, according to the creative team, was to ensure that the urban environment functions as more than a picturesque backdrop.
We always try to do that to keep it as authentic as possible because you really want people to feel like they’re at the ground level on the streets in the city with our guys. It feels lived in. The cliche is that New York is a character in the show, but we really do want to make it feel that way.
Byron Balasco, Showrunner
Producers Connect Past Characters to the New Drama
Producers have left the door open for familiar faces from past chapters to make guest appearances. When asked about potential visits from former NCIS: Los Angeles cast members such as Chris O’Donnell or Eric Christian-Olson, LL Cool J and Balasco indicated that cross-pollination across the television universe remains entirely possible as the show establishes its footing.