'NCIS: Origins' Adds 2 More Legacy Characters for Pride Episode: Introducing Betts & McLane

The full lineup of the Fed Five has been finalized for an upcoming episode of NCIS: Origins that will feature a young Dwayne Pride, played by Shea Buckner, alongside Scott Bakulas portrayal in NCIS: New Orleans.

Adam Kulbersh has been cast as NIS Special Agent Felix Betts, a character previously played by Stuart Margolin in Season 11 of NCIS. Mark Deklin will appear as NIS Special Agent Dan McLane for a single episode. The Fed Fivecomprising Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Austin Stowell in Origins, Mark Harmon in NCIS), Mike Franks (Kyle Schmid, Muse Watson), Pride, Betts, and McLanewas originally introduced in the two-part backdoor pilot Crescent City from 2014, which led to NCIS: New Orleans.

Betts is described as an auditor from the Los Angeles office who is brought to Pendleton to assist a newly formed task force, while McLane is a highly respected veteran field agent from the Panama office called in to lead a joint operation targeting a stolen weapons ring.

Earlier reports confirmed that a young Dwayne Pride, formerly a Sheriffs Deputy and now a probationary agent in the NIS Panama Office, will appear in a Season 2 episode. Pride and Gibbs have a shared history, and the upcoming story explores their previous tensions as they collaborate undercover on a case.

Co-showrunners Gina Lucita Monreal and David J. North commented on the casting: NCIS: Origins allows us to explore the early days of beloved characters. Were thrilled to revisit the 1990s version of New Orleans pride and joy, Special Agent Dwayne Pride, and delve deeper into his past with Gibbs.

The original Crescent City two-parter began with Prides team investigating McLanes murder, which ultimately reunited him with Gibbs. By then, their past friction had been resolved, with Gibbs affirming to his team his longstanding trust in Pride, setting a timeline around 1984 for their initial meeting. These episodes also revisited the infamous Privileged Killer case, revealing that McLane had known the true murderer and had taken a bribe years earlier.

NCIS: Origins airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on CBS.

Author: Logan Reeves