‘NCIS: Hawaii’: Jennifer Esposito’s Alexander Quinn Could Be the Female Lead the Spinoff Is Looking For
The NCIS: Hawaii rumor mill continues to heat up. After it was revealed in February that CBS was close to a series order for the new NCIS spinoff, fans have been all over social media with their theories about who will be part of the cast.
Could Jennifer Esposito’s Alexander Quinn be the first female lead in the NCIS franchise?
CBS is keeping quiet about ‘NCIS: Hawaii’
On February 16, two reports emerged claiming that CBS was close to greenlighting Hawaii. The news came just after it was revealed that the network would be canceling NCIS: New Orleans after seven seasons.
Even though CBS has confirmed the NOLA cancelation, they’ve yet to make a comment about the Hawaii spinoff. In fact, they haven’t even made an announcement about the fate of NCIS proper, as well as NCIS: Los Angeles. This is most likely due to the pandemic delaying just about everything related to the 2020-21 broadcast TV season.
What’s the name of the show?
Even though the potential spinoff has been referred to as Hawaii by absolutely everyone, TV Line reports that the new team will be known as NCIS Pearl. This makes sense, as the series would take place on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu where Pearl Harbor is located.
It’s not clear if the new show will be known as NCIS: Hawaii or NCIS Pearl, as the network is still in the early pilot stage. CBS hasn’t even confirmed the show is in the works. But insiders claim they are looking for a pilot director and staffing the writer’s room.
It also appears that the newest entry in the NCIS franchise will not be introduced via a backdoor pilot. Instead of meeting the characters in an established show, fans will have to wait for the official series premiere.
Will ‘NCIS: Hawaii’ have a female lead?
The latest story to come out of the NCIS rumor mill is that the Hawaii spinoff will feature the franchise’s first female lead. Mark Harmon has played Special Agent in Charge Leroy Jethro Gibbs on the flagship series since 2003. Chris O’Donnell’s Callen leads the team on NCIS: Los Angeles. And, Scott Bakula’s Dwayne Pride was in charge of all seven seasons of New Orleans.
Now, sources say that Hawaii will get a female Special Agent in Charge. The character’s name is reportedly Jane Tennant. The network is supposedly in the process of casting Jane and the other principal characters, despite the fact they’ve yet to give a formal series order.
Could Jennifer Esposito’s Alex Quinn be the female lead they are looking for?
NCIS fans will remember that Jennifer Esposito joined the show as agent Alex Quinn at the same time Wilmer Valderrama made his debut as Torres. Despite making quite the impression, the character didn’t last long. She left at the end of season 14.
As Express notes, Alex left her job to look after her sick mother. But, a reason was never given as to why Esposito left the procedural so quickly. There is some speculation that the show decided to take a different creative direction.
Showrunner Gary Glasberg created the Alex character, but he died before the start of season 15.
Could Ziva David be part of ‘NCIS: Hawaii’?
Even though rumors point to the female lead of NCIS: Hawaii being named Jane Tennant, fans are still holding on to hope for the return of Cote de Pablo’s Ziva David. Ever since the news broke that CBS was close to picking up Hawaii, fans have been clamoring for Ziva’s return, as well as the return of Michael Weatherly’s Tony DiNozzo.
Despite the strong fan campaign on social media for the return of Ziva and Tony, it doesn’t look like they will get their wish. But, with so many unknowns about Hawaii, it’s still possible. They’ll just have to wait and see.
NCIS airs Tuesdays on CBS.
