“We Suggested It”: ‘NCIS: Los Angeles’ Star Chris O’Donnell Says He Attempted To Save the Beloved Spin-Off

Chris O’Donnell is returning to the procedural landscape, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t regretful about his previous ventures. In an interview with TV Line’s Matt Webb Mitovich, the former NCIS: Los Angeles star mentioned efforts to revive the series after its 14-year-long run. In the NCIS spin-off, O'Donnell played G. Callen, the Special Agent in Charge of the Los Angeles office. The series also starred L.L. Cool J as Sam Hanna and Eric Christian Olsen as Marty Deeks. NCIS: LA had a decent run on CBS, though not quite as long as its predecessor, which concluded its 22nd season. When Mitovich raised the question of a television movie to depict the events following his time on the series, O’Donnell admitted he was on board.

“We suggested it, actually. But I don’t think that formula works real well for CBS,” O’Donnell noted. He added that during the recent writers’ strike, the NCIS cast had come together and raised the idea of hammering out a television movie in six weeks. Even so, it never came together.

“It was tough to leave because everyone just loved working with each other,” O’Donnell added. The NCIS: LA characters, such as Hanna, continue to live on in other franchise series. In the interview, O’Donnell learned that his character was still with his wife, and Sam Hanna was stuck in a DMZ. The actor was pleased to hear that Callen and Anna were having a baby, but he is also focused on the next phase in his career.

Chris O’Donnell Has Set His Sights On a New Procedural

A few years following the cancellation of NCIS: LA, Chris O’Donnell is joining another spin-off. The Batman & Robin actor was promoting his return to the stage in 9-1-1: Nashville. The flagship series follows the world of first responders, starring Angela Bassett and Jennifer Love Hewitt. The series already had one spin-off, entitled 9-1-1: Lone Star, and O’Donnell will head up the new series set in Nashville.

Though he couldn’t give much away about his character, O’Donnell revealed at the upfronts that he will be playing Captain Don Sharpe. Filming has yet to start, but the actor stated that Sharpe is married to Jessica Capshaw’s character and the two have a son also employed at the fire department. O’Donnell was sure to keep most details under wraps, but did mention that his new character is vastly different from Callen. Fans can stay tuned to Collider for any updates on the new series set to premiere in September 2025.