LL Cool J Returns as Sam Hanna in First Look at ‘NCIS: New York’

LL Cool J is back as Special Agent Sam Hanna.

CBS released first-look photos and a teaser trailer this week showing Hanna in action on NCIS: New York.

Hanna is a Naval Criminal Investigative Service member.

The upcoming spinoff shows him returning to his hometown of New York City for a new assignment, in a role originated on NCIS: Los Angeles.

The teaser follows him walking into the New York field office as he meets his new team, which is “tasked with high-stakes missions to defend one of the most vital cities and ports in the world,” according to the show’s official description.

“I’ve heard good things,” Hanna says in the video. He’s partnered with “roguish agent” Nick Schaeffer, played by Scott Caan.

“I wanna work with the best, if not, why do the job?” Schaeffer asks.

The cast also includes Jennifer Beals as Sam and Nick’s supervisor, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Robyn Wells.

Jacqueline Byers plays Special Agent Addison ‘Addy’ Ross. Shane Harper plays Special Agent Wyatt Sellers, and Devin Druid has a role as Tech Specialist Sean Sullivan.

CBS announced the spinoff in April, saying it would debut in the fall.

LL Cool J played Hanna for 14 seasons on NCIS: Los Angeles before the series ended in 2023. He reprised the role on NCIS: Hawai’i, which CBS canceled in 2024 after three seasons.

In April, the rapper-turned-actor told People the role has always been close to his heart.

“I’ve been kind of on and off doing the character all along, whether it was going to Hawaii, whether it was doing the mothership, you know, the original,” he said. “I’m just having fun.”

Caan previously starred on CBS’ Hawaii Five-0 alongside Alex O’Loughlin, Daniel Dae Kim, Grace Park, Chi McBride, and Dennis Chun. The law enforcement drama ended in 2020 after 10 seasons.

Produced by CBS Studios, NCIS: New York is executive produced by R. Scott Gemmill, Byron Balasco, LL Cool J, and Jason Barrett.

The series is scheduled to premiere Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 9/8c on CBS.