Sam Hanna is officially back.
CBS has released the first trailer and first-look photos for NCIS: New York, bringing LL COOL J back to the NCIS universe as the legendary special agent begins a new chapter in his hometown.
The new series sends Hanna to New York City, where he joins the local NCIS field office and partners with NCIS Special Agent Nick Schaeffer, a roguish agent played by Scott Caan. Together, they help lead a new team tasked with high-stakes missions protecting one of the most vital cities and ports in the world.
NCIS: New York premieres Tuesday, October 6 at 9/8c on CBS.
What Is NCIS: New York About?
NCIS: New York brings Sam Hanna home.
After years of missions that took him around the world, the veteran NCIS agent returns to New York City and becomes part of a new field office responsible for protecting a city with enormous strategic importance.
At the center of Hanna’s new assignment is his partnership with Nick Schaeffer, played by Scott Caan.
CBS describes Schaeffer as a “roguish agent,” immediately setting up a potentially entertaining contrast with Hanna’s decades of experience, discipline and highly developed instincts.
But Sam and Nick won’t be working alone.
The New York office introduces an entirely new NCIS team, with Jennifer Beals, Jacqueline Byers, Shane Harper and Devin Druid joining LL COOL J and Caan as series regulars.
LL COOL J Returns as Sam Hanna
For longtime NCIS fans, the biggest story is simple: Sam Hanna is back.
LL COOL J originated the role on NCIS: Los Angeles, where Hanna served alongside Chris O’Donnell’s G. Callen throughout the show’s 14-season run.
Following the end of NCIS: Los Angeles in 2023, LL COOL J brought Hanna to NCIS: Hawaiʻi, keeping the character active within the larger franchise.
NCIS: New York now puts Sam at the center of another NCIS team while bringing the character back to the city he calls home.
Rather than starting completely from scratch, the new series has an established franchise veteran at its center while surrounding him with characters audiences haven’t met before.
That gives NCIS: New York an interesting balance: a familiar lead with years of history for longtime viewers, paired with an almost entirely new workplace and ensemble.
Who Stars in NCIS: New York?
LL COOL J leads NCIS: New York as NCIS Special Agent Sam Hanna.
Scott Caan stars as NCIS Special Agent Nick Schaeffer, Sam’s new partner in the New York field office.
Jennifer Beals plays Assistant Special Agent in Charge Robyn Wells, while Jacqueline Byers stars as NCIS Special Agent Addison “Addy” Ross.
Shane Harper joins the team as NCIS Special Agent Wyatt Sellers, and Devin Druid plays NCIS Tech Specialist Sean Sullivan.
The full announced main cast includes:
LL COOL J — NCIS Special Agent Sam Hanna
Scott Caan — NCIS Special Agent Nick Schaeffer
Jennifer Beals — Assistant Special Agent in Charge Robyn Wells
Jacqueline Byers — NCIS Special Agent Addison “Addy” Ross
Shane Harper — NCIS Special Agent Wyatt Sellers
Devin Druid — NCIS Tech Specialist Sean Sullivan
The ensemble gives Sam Hanna a completely new group of agents to work with while allowing NCIS: New York to establish its own identity within the expanding NCIS franchise.
Watch the NCIS: New York Season 1 Trailer
The first NCIS: New York trailer offers the first extended look at Sam Hanna’s return, his new partnership with Nick Schaeffer and the team that will surround them in New York.
Trailer provided by CBS.
When Does NCIS: New York Premiere?
NCIS: New York premieres Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at 9/8c on CBS.
Paramount+ Premium subscribers will be able to stream the series live and on demand, while Paramount+ Essential subscribers can watch episodes on demand beginning the day after they air.
The October premiere officially begins the next chapter of Sam Hanna’s NCIS career and gives the franchise another major city to call home.
NCIS: New York Season 1 First-Look Photos
Along with the first trailer, CBS has released the first official photos from NCIS: New York, providing a closer look at LL COOL J’s return as Sam Hanna and the new agents joining him in New York City.
Check out the NCIS: New York Season 1 first-look photos below.
Thomas Miller is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Seat42F, covering television, movies and streaming entertainment. He launched Seat42F in 2007 and has spent nearly two decades covering the entertainment industry.
