Mark Harmon 2018: Actor Preparing for New CBS Crime Drama; Is He Leaving ‘NCIS’ Season 16?

Mark Harmon will have a new project next year and it was learned that he was tapped to be the executive producer of a crime drama that will be based on John Sandford's "Prey" novel series. The drama has no title yet but it is already in the works according to reports.

As per The Hollywood Reporter, Mark Harmon will team up with former “Shadowhunters” showrunner Ed Decter for the new CBS show. The drama will tell the story of a homicide detective named Lucas Davenport and his close friend Elle Krueger, a psychology professor. Together, they will hunt their “prey” a.k.a. the most dangerous criminals in Minnesota.

It was added that aside from Mark Harmon, two other individuals who previously worked with Ed Decter are joining the list of bosses. Howard Braunstein and Michael Jaffe were selected to be executive producers as well.

Now, with this new project, does it mean that Mark Harmon is leaving “NCIS?” The veteran actor is also serving as the show’s executive producer in addition to his role as Leroy Jethro Gibbs. He also holds this same management position in “NCIS: New Orleans” so adding another project to his schedule would be very hectic, right?

Fans should not worry because Mark Harmon is not leaving “NCIS” where he starred for 16 seasons already. The 67-year-old actor will continue to be the drama’s lead as Gibbs since just previously signed a new contract with CBS. Based on the reports, his contract includes starring in “NCIS” season 17 so this means that accepting another work as an executive producer will not have an effect on his filming for the long-running police procedural drama.

Meanwhile, Mark Harmon’s “NCIS” season 16 has been released in the U.S. on Sept. 25 but fans in the U.K. are still waiting for its premiere. The good news is that fans do not have to wait longer because FOX already set its U.K. release to Jan. 4, 2019.