Would ‘NCIS: LA’ Star Eric Christian Olsen Jump Ship to Join the ‘Hawaii’ Spin-Off?
There is a lot going on right now in the NCIS universe. CBS has canceled one spinoff while they reportedly have another in the works.
There have also been rumors that Eric Christian Olsen (Marty Deeks) is ready to leave NCIS: Los Angeles. Is it possible he could jump ship to the new spinoff NCIS: Hawaii?
‘NCIS: LA’ shocked fans when Marty Deeks got fired
Early on in season 12, NCIS: Los Angeles shocked fans when Olsen’s character Marty Deeks lost his job as liaison between the LAPD and NCIS. Immediately, fans were worried that Olsen was planning to leave the show. Deeks was a recurring character during season 1. But ever since, he’s been a main part of the cast.
During the shocking episode titled “Raising the Dead,” Deeks was fired due to the elimination of the liaison position. Hetty Lange (Linda Hunt) fought to save Deeks’ job, but she wasn’t successful. Since Deeks is too old to go through the process of becoming an NCIS Agent, Nell Jones (Renee Felice-Smith) told him that his time on the team was officially over.
According to Express, after the episode aired star Daniela Ruah (Kensi Blye) promised fans that Olsen and his character weren’t going anywhere.
“Listen, if Eric were leaving the show permanently, we would know about that by now, and that’s obviously not the case,” Ruah said. “So, somewhere and somehow, things happen that change the course of where the story is going.”
She wasn’t wrong. By the next episode, strings were pulled and Deeks got into the NCIS Academy. He struggled greatly during FLETC training. But by episode nine “A Fait Accompli,” Deeks was an official NCIS Special agent.
CBS reportedly has ‘Hawaii’ in development
Earlier this month, CBS announced that they had canceled NCIS: New Orleans after seven seasons. At the same time, reports emerged that the network had a new spinoff in the works – NCIS: Hawaii.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, CBS is close to a straight-to-series order for the new spinoff. The network has not commented because the project is still in development.
They are still making deals with potential cast and crew. However, insiders say that Chris Silber, the showrunner of NCIS: New Orleans, will be taking over the new series.
CBS will reportedly shoot the new spinoff on location in Hawaii. The new series is currently staffing their writers room and they are also interviewing possible pilot directors. In addition to Silber, SEAL Team’s Matt Bosack will be an executive producer on the new Hawaii-based procedural.
Will Eric Christian Olsen leave ‘NCIS: LA’ for Hawaii?
During a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Olsen and Ruah addressed the rumor that NCIS: Hawaii was in development.
“I think it’s an exciting opportunity because, listen, Hawaii is Hawaii. And if there’s anything that we want to watch on TV, it’s people in paradise running around catching bad guys,” Olsen said.
The actor also noted that the spinoff hasn’t been cast yet. He then added, “I think it’s a great opportunity for an expansion of the franchise.”
Ruah agreed, and added that CBS obviously knows that the recipe for the NCIS franchise has “worked quite nicely.”
Olsen didn’t address the possibility that he could leave NCIS: LA and head to Hawaii. But, he has been seen in the Hawaiian Islands during an NCIS: LA crossover with Hawaii Five-0. CBS Studios is reportedly using the same production base for NCIS: Hawaii that they set up for Hawaii Five-0.
At this point, it doesn’t appear that Olsen’s Marty Deeks is heading to Hawaii. But, fans will have to stay tuned to find out how CBS introduces their new NCIS spinoff. The franchise does have a history of backdoor pilots. It’s not entirely out of the question that the new series could begin with a connection to an established part of the franchise.
NCIS: Los Angeles airs Sunday nights on CBS.
