‘NCIS: Los Angeles’ Adds ‘Criminal Minds’ Alum Esai Morales for Season 10

esai-morales
Sonja Flemming\ CBS

NCIS: Los Angeles is recruiting a TV vet for its upcoming Season 10!

It was announced this week that Esai Morales will join the CBS procedural in a recurring capacity. The actor, who has appeared in a slew of shows over the years including NYPD BlueCriminal MindsChicago P.D., Blue Bloods, and Ozark, will play Deputy Director Gaines, according to Deadline.

Deputy Gaines is described as an intelligent and commanding figure — someone who can be trusted. His character arc will have him accompany a prosecutor from the Department of Defense as they investigate the NCIS office and employees. Morales will first appear in episodes beginning this October, after the series returns in September.

Gaines will be present to help the characters go through prosecutor interviews, as his job is to protect them. His presence and the investigation are connected to the rescue mission in Mexico from the Season 9 finale, which will continue into the premiere.

“Following the rescue mission in Mexico from last season’s finale and this season’s premiere, our NCIS: Los Angeles team will face challenging repercussions but they will have a new ally in the Deputy Director,” executive producer R. Scott Gemmill told Deadline. “We are thrilled that the talented Esai Morales has signed on to this recurring role.”

Hopefully all of the cliffhangers fans were left with in last season’s final episode will be tied up within the first few episodes. Until then, they can mark their calendars for the September 30 premiere.

NCIS: Los Angeles, Season 10 Premiere, Sunday, September 30, 9:30/8:30c, CBS