NCIS: Origins is diving into Gibbs’ past, but it looks like it’s also borrowing some serious action-thriller vibes from none other than Tom Cruise. And no, we’re not talking Mission: Impossible, though that would be wild. The upcoming prequel series reportedly takes heavy inspiration from two of Cruise’s cult-classic films, which makes total sense if you consider the young Gibbs storyline.
From high-stakes intensity to a certain old-school charm, these influences could shape NCIS: Origins into something far greater than fans expected. If they pull it off right, this could be the most cinematic NCIS has ever been.
How NCIS: Origins channels Tom Cruise’s ’90s swagger with Top Gun and A Few Good Men vibes
NCIS: Origins is a nostalgic deep dive into 1991, with a dash of Top Gun cool and A Few Good Men grit. Set in Gibbs’ early days at the fledgling NCIS Camp Pendleton office, the show doesn’t just nod to the ‘90s; it lives and breathes them.
The production team went all-in on period details, making sure every fax machine, outdated computer, and even the quirks of dead tech screamed authenticity. As props head Pat Russo put it (per IndieWire),
It’s dead technology, so you need to skin it and change the button that says copy, and you can only use a bottom loader instead of a top loader where the paper goes through.
Getting those old-school gadgets to work was like bringing fossils back to life. But it’s not all tech nostalgia. Costume designer Jill Ohanneson kept things grounded, steering clear of ‘80s caricatures with geometric patterns and loud colors. Instead, she opted for functional, blue-collar threads that felt natural and relatable. She said,
We’re not high fashion. We’re not in the Hamptons…It’s very much middle America here, and the clothes need to be functional. I also wanted to give us somewhere to go. We’re in ’91; if [future seasons push] into the mid-’90s, and I put all of my best ’90s looks out there right at the front, then I’m going to run out of inspiration pretty quickly.
The visual vibe? All thanks to production designer Rusty Smith, who added that gritty, sun-faded feel with a secret weapon — Rusty sauce, a nicotine-brown spray that aged the bullpen set to perfection. The result was a space that feels like it’s been through decades of government grind.
And yes, Top Gun and A Few Good Men weren’t just aesthetic inspirations. They helped shape the show’s tone — serious, sharp, and effortlessly cool. From Southern California freeways to cell phones that actually light up (saving on VFX costs, naturally), every detail keeps NCIS: Origins both authentic and stylish.
In short, this isn’t just a throwback — it’s a love letter to the early ‘90s, with Tom Cruise-level swagger to match.
CBS locks in another season for NCIS: Sydney despite mixed reviews
NCIS: Sydney isn’t going anywhere. CBS renewed the international spin-off for another season. Despite a shaky 28% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, the show pulled solid ratings after its 2023 debut. Now back for Season 2, this renewal proves CBS is all-in on its ever-expanding NCIS universe.
This marks the franchise’s first global leap, pairing U.S. NCIS agents with Australia’s AFP. Led by Olivia Swann’s sharp Special Agent Michelle Mackey and Todd Lasance’s tough JD Dempsey, the cast brings fresh energy to familiar territory.
What about crossovers? Showrunner Morgan O’Neill admitted that it was a challenge for them but teased that fans might still get those franchise connections they crave. He alluded (via TV Insider),
It’s a challenge for us. We’re not just in the studio next door. We can’t just pull Rocky Carroll out and drag him on our set. It’s not quite that easy. But I would say the great thrill of a franchise like NCIS is that it’s an interconnected world.
Fans love that it is, and we’re certainly trying to work out ways where we can satisfy the desire for a kind of crossover or an interaction of sorts. So that may be happening in our future, I suppose, is the best way to put it.
For now, NCIS: Sydney airs Fridays on CBS, with episodes streaming on Paramount+.
NCIS: Origins is available to watch on Hulu & Apple TV.
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