‘NCIS’: Will LL Cool J Return Next Season Again as Sam Hanna?
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The ever-expanding NCISverse will be taking over Tuesday nights in fall 2025, with the mothership, NCIS: Origins, and NCIS: Sydney airing in a three-hour block. And the good news is that thanks to past crossovers and the interconnected nature of the franchise, we’ve gotten updates on characters from canceled spinoffs like New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Hawai’i over the years. LL Cool J even reprised his role as Sam Hanna on NCIS in the April 21 Season 22 Episode 18 “After the Storm.” Executive producer Steven D. Binder would love to see him again — and that episode certainly set up future appearances.
While he was no longer Special Agent Sam Hanna — he’d left NCIS — the episode ended him on the path to return to the agency. “Seeing your team, working shoulder to shoulder with them, reminded me how much I missed it,” he’d explained to Vance (Rocky Carroll). The agency’s director assured him, “There’s always a place for you back at NCIS.” Sam did have something to take care of first, and Vance had a feeling it had to do with his old boss, Hetty Lange since he’d heard about her being spotted. (Sam said it was better he didn’t know.) The NCIS: LA series finale ended with Sam part of the team put together to rescue her.
“I wish we could have done more of that,” Binder tells TV Insider. “We were trying to service all the characters, so we didn’t necessarily create a story per se about one of the characters. And I’m getting the impression that that was a command decision fail on my part.”
Just like when it comes to any potential crossovers with NCIS: Tony & Ziva (also premiering this fall, but on the streaming service Paramount+), with Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo reprising their roles, there’s nothing official for a return from LL Cool J.
“But I, as a showrunner, say LL always has a place at NCIS. They all do. They’re all great. They’re pros. We love having them,” says Binder. “It’s just people have very busy schedules, especially he does. So making it work is a logistical challenge and probably the bottleneck more than anything to why you may or may not see more. Not because there’s not a desire and a will, just because scheduling is very difficult. Todd showed up in [Episode 18]. From Episode 1, we were like, ‘OK, when can we make this work?'”
Do you want to see LL Cool J back as Sam Hanna next season on NCIS? Which other spinoff characters would you like to see appear? Let us know in the comments section below.
NCIS, Season 23, Fall 2025, CBS
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Comments are closed on this story.
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T
How about actually bringing in Hetty?
17 3
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R
I liked watching Hetty. Please bring her back
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O
YES!!! PLEASE BRING SAM HANNA BACK!!! He’s an asset to any of those shows and plays his role well.
18 5
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O
Definetly LL, also Kenzi and Deeks, The best Ziva David and Tony Dinzo
15 4
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G
I loved seeing sam hannna recurring in NCIS.
How about someone like the ncis new Orleans boss!
16 5
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O
Bishop and Gibbs and Abby
11 1
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R
Only as an occasional guest. I like the cast as it is.
13 4
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G
Yes!! And double Yes!! 😁😁🥰
10 4
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B
LL should be a guest star only. Leave the cast as it is do not ruin the show.
9 4
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B
No
3
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O
Yes. I'd love to see Sam Hanna in NCIS
2
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G
YEZZZ! Would like to see Sam Hanna as regular on show!
2
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R
No, I don’t want him appearing again. I liked him as part of NCIS:Los Angeles, but did not like him showing up in NCIS:Hawaii either (and why was that good show canceled?)
3 1
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G
ABSOLUTELY I'd WANNA C ANY OF "NCIS ALUM" ESPECIALLY IN THE 'PACIFIC THEATRE' OPS, SUCH AS 'HAWAII' WHICH HAS PLENTY OF INTERAGENCY INTRIGUE BETWEEN THERE & 'SYDNEY', & BACK ON MAINLAND ACTION WITH CAMEOS FROM 'L.A.' GANG & 'NEW ORLEANS' IF IT COULD B WORKED OUT! NEVER UNDERSTOOD Y NONE OF THE CANCELED SERIES DIDN'T GETTA CHANCE TO MOVE OVER INTO STREAMING SERVICE ARENA LIKE PARAMOUNT+ WHERE SUM CBS SHOWS SURVIVED LIKE 'CRIMINAL MINDS,' 'SEAL TEAM' TO NAME A FEW! I BELIEVE THEIR POPULARITY WOULD GAIN NEW VIEWERSHIP IF GIVEN A CHANCE! THANKU!
2
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C
Why not? They're all connected except for origins, which in my view ain't all that good.
Not sure how you'd get the connection to Sydney, but let's do it. Not all the time, 'cause let's remember they have their jobs in NO, LA, etc.
7 5
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O
I would love to see him come back. All the really good NCIS was canceled Hawaii & NoLo & LA was the Best of the NCIS. Do a spin around off of the cast from those NCIS shows. LL Cool J is a great asset to Any NCIS show.
1
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R
I do want to see Sam back and Hetty, "G" and Kenzi, Deeks along with the specialist from the start! It would make one Hell of a show if those folks could return in spots!!!!!
1
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G
Definitely l l cool j as sam hannah. I'm in my eighties and I like his character
1
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C
Yes he is such a great actor would love to see him return
1
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O
Enough LL Cool J already.
2 1
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P
Would like to see agent Pride from NOLA show up. The NOLA office didn't close, they quit making shows.
1
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H
I am a huge fan of the Sam Hanna character and would love to see him again. Also would like to see the Hetty character again.
I like them all except Origins.
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A
I would love to see Sam, Abby, Kenzi, Deeks and Hetty all on NCIS just make one great big team
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R
Yes. I personally thought he was one of the biggest reasons for the success of LA
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C
I want to see all of NCIS LA return
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O
I’m waiting for Sam Hanna’s return's anywhere in the NCISVERSE. I also feel the characters will fit in well wherever needed. I love Deeks and Kenzi. I miss Hetty but understand if she wants to lay low.
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C
I miss the NCIS: New Orleans crew, especially Dwayne Pride.
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P
I would love to see LL cool J back
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G
Absolutely, I love all the characters in all of the NCIS. I am truly dedicated to these shows. I have been watching since episode 1. In fact, Noone was allowed to call me or come over on a Tuesday, so glad that they are coming back to Tuesday nights.
I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE RETURN OF TONY AND ZIVA
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C
I would love to see LL as part of NCIS but really I'm not over NCIS New Orleans being canceled.
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B
Tony and ziva ,why bother? Move on new people.
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G
Sam and maybe just updates somehow on the rest of LA characters.
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B
No. Do not bring him back as a regular!!! He helped kill NCIS Hawaii. And he does not fit as a team player with current cast.
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P
No, I do not want llcoolj on ncis. He had his chance and he ruined NCIS Hawaii.
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O
I would absolutely love to see more of Sam Hanna I also would love to see G Callen, and Kensi and Deeks I miss the Los Angeles crew
1 1
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O
Hell yes! I would love to see LL Cool J on NCIS, I loved him as sam hanna!! He would make a great addition to the cast..
2 2
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B
No
1 1
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C
Dislike the character intensely, makes the show all about him.
2 2
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R
I hope that they don’t bring back Sam Hanna . He was one of the reasons I didn’t watch ncis la
4 4
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O
I hope not. Every show he has been in has cancelled. I would hate for this show to be done. I love it.
3 3
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G
Yes!!! Bring him back with G Callen!!!!!
2 2
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O
Hope not ,he done in Hawaii NCIS.
The show became all about Him .
Before for you know it, they will all be Gone
Just give him a payoff and let him go back to Lip sink..
3 3
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P
I hope not!! He was awesome on NCIS Los Angeles. His character on NCIS Hawaii ruined that season he was on. His character didn't make sense from beginning to end. I believe one reason the show was canceled that season.
1
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B
Sure
2 3
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G
He has ruined every single show he has been on , they were all cancelled please remove him forever!!! DO NOT ALLOW HIM TO RUIN THE MAIN SHOW,!,
2 3
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C
Yes Sam has to come back. He is one of the group people that has to come back. Miss him.
3 4
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G
Yes I would love to see him come back!
2 3
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C
No LL Cool J return bad acting would hurt show
3 4
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G
Yessss LL Cool J please come back
1
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R
I don't care for him I will quit watching if he joins
5 6
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R
would love to see him back along with G and Deeks and Kensi
1 3
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G
I'd love to see all the time.
1 4
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