When NCIS : Origins hits the 2024 TV schedule in October, fans are going to be introduced to a younger version of Leroy Jethro Gibbs. While the decade will have changed, fans of the flagship CBS series will be familiar with at least one of the other characters’ names and even possibly faces, too. That’s because Mike Franks’ signature facial hair will be alive and well on the mug of Kyle Schmid to portray the younger version of Gibbs’ mentor.
Blue Bloods may be better known for its mustachioed men, but the NCIS prequel series seems to understand the importance of such a feature as well. Muse Watson portrayed special agent Mike Franks in 20 episodes of NCIS from Seasons 3 to 15, and now fans will get the chance to see Gibbs and Franks in action earlier in their careers. Kyle Schmid appeared at TCA this summer looking the part, too, sporting a very Watson-esque mustache, TV Line reports, as he talked about having the freedom to add his own flair to the character — as long as he played within certain rules.
And yes, the ‘stache definitely was one of the non-negotiable details, Schmid said, explaining: To me, the specifics were holding true to some physicality — and the mustache is one of those things. I think it sets him apart, I also think it’s very period. And the Franks character that was so well rooted in the original series, in my opinion, kind of ‘stayed’ in 1991.
So it only felt right to have the mustache at that time. Kyle Schmid sees the effects of Mi.