‘NCIS: Hawaii’ Gives CBS An Opportunity To Prioritize Diversity
NCIS is one of the longest-running police procedural dramas of all time, and over the years, it has spawned multiple hit spinoffs. The show’s spinoffs have included a variety of interesting characters and situations, all set within the larger NCIS universe.
Still, fans have been aching for something new, something that offers a unique perspective and all-new scenery — and they might be getting it with the latest spinoff, NCIS: Hawaii. While very little is known about the newly-announced series, many viewers are excited for the chance to see some more diverse casting than what has been featured in the past.
‘NCIS: Hawaii’ was announced in spring 2021
In spring 2021, showrunners at the CBS network hit viewers with two big announcements, back to back. One announcement was that they would be canceling the series NCIS: New Orleans, with the final series episodes airing in May 2021.
After seven successful years, many of the show’s performers are sad to see the series go, but have expressed nothing but affection for the network, and for the NCIS universe. NCIS: New Orleans star Scott Bakula released a statement saying “sad to end our love affair with this phenomenal city but so grateful for all the friends we made along the way.”
The other announcement was a much more positive one, with showrunners revealing that the network is currently in the process of producing and filming a brand new NCIS spinoff series, titled NCIS: Hawaii. Details are sparse for right now, but what fans do know is certainly exciting.
What do fans know about ‘NCIS: Hawaii’?
So far, none of the stars of the new NCIS: Hawaii series have yet been announced. Still, some of the behind-the-scenes crew members from NCIS: New Orleans will be coming on board for the new series, including Christopher Silber and executive producer Jan Nash. Many fans are speculating that the series could include some of the cast members from NCIS: New Orleans, such as Bakula.
Many media outlets are speculating that NCIS: Hawaii will be filmed on location in Hawaii — although official confirmation from the network has not yet been released to address that point. A recent report from Deadline reveals that the team could utilize the large production base that was built in Hawaii to be used for the filming of the TV series Hawaii Five-o.
Certainly, showrunners at CBS have shown that they prefer to film on location whenever possible, to maintain a sense of realism and to bring viewers right into the heart of the NCIS universe. That commitment to authenticity is what might point to NCIS: Hawaii featuring a diverse cast of characters — actors and entertainers who actually represent the real look and feel of the Hawaiian islands.
Could ‘NCIS: Hawaii’ give showrunners an opportunity to include more diverse characters?
With NCIS: Hawaii potentially being filmed on location in Hawaii, there is plenty of opportunities for showrunners to include an ethnically diverse cast of characters. The same report from Deadline features several comments from fans who point to the fact that the show should include at least one or two performers of Hawaiian origin, with one fan writing “hopefully put an actor that represents Hawaiian people in the lead role.”
Hawaii’s diverse demographic lends itself well to an ensemble drama show — so it certainly seems that the production team would be well-served to take a step toward inclusivity by casting an Asian or Pacific Islander in one of the prime lead roles.
