After the 2023 cancellation of NCIS: Los Angeles after 13 seasons, LL Cool J joined season 3 of NCIS: Hawaiʻi as a recurring guest star, reprising his character of Special Agent Sam Hanna. In late-2025, CBS Studios began to pitch a New York City-based spin-off focused on Hanna to LL Cool J. At his suggestion. CBS brought on R. Scott Gemmill—who had previously served as showrunner and executive producer of NCIS: Los Angeles—to write the pilot; he would draft the script during a Christmas break in production on The Pitt. Gemmill explained that he was excited by the project because it was a return "home" for both Hanna and LL Cool J, and because New York was "the burning center of the universe".[1]Byron Balasco was brought on as showrunner.[1] Scott Caan was cast as Hanna's partner; Caan had previously participated in an NCIS: Los Angeles crossover with Hawaii Five-0.[1]
On April 15, 2026, CBS announced that it had ordered NCIS: New York to series as part of its fall lineup for the 2026–27 television season.[2] LL Cool J explained that the show would "be a lot of fun", and have "a lot of sarcasm, lot of banter, lot of witty repartees, lot of New York. It’s gonna be everything you need to get."[1]
