'NCIS' spinoff officially lands LL Cool J

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Updated on December 20, 2019 03:12AM EST

CBS has confirmed the scoop Michael Ausiello had three weeks ago: LL Cool J has been cast in the planned NCIS spinoff, NCIS: Legend, the pilot of which will air later this season during a two-part episode of the original series. Though we were unable to find out what Legend refers to in the title, we were able to get a full character dossier on LL’s Special Agent Sam Hanna: He’s a “former Navy SEAL who now works in the undercover unit of NCIS in Los Angeles. His training and experience make him the hard man of the team but his toughness conceals a thoughtful, eloquent and disarmingly charming man who speaks fluent Arabic and is an expert on Middle Eastern culture.”

I’m digging this casting. He can be intense and fun (see him in Deep Blue Sea — he was the best part, which is why the ending was reshot so he’d live) and he can be quiet (such a doll in Last Holiday — wait, was I the only one who saw Last Holiday?). The only thing that makes me a little sad is that from the looks of the S.W.A.T. DVD jacket, he would’ve looked great in a NCIS ballcap, which I presume he won’t get to wear if he’s with the undercover unit. Pity.

While we await official confirmation that the spinoff’s other big name, Chris O’Donnell, has closed his deal, let’s do a pulse-check: How are you feeling about the NCIS spinoff now?

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