Hold onto your vintage cell phones and dial-up modems, "NCIS" fans, because we're about to take a trip back to the 1990s, where it all began! "NCIS: Origins," the highly anticipated prequel series, is set to unveil the untold story of how Leroy Jethro Gibbs, the gruff, rule-breaking agent we know and love, became the legend he is today.

And to guide us through this journey of crime-solving and bromance-building, we have Kyle Schmid, the actor stepping into the iconic role of young Mike Franks, Gibbs' mentor, partner-in-crime, and future ghostly confidant.

A Jaded Mentor and a Promising Rookie: Meet Young Franks and Gibbs

Forget the silver fox we saw in the original "NCIS." Schmid's Mike Franks is a man worn down by years of battling criminals and bureaucratic BS. He's seen it all, done it all, and he's not afraid to bend the rules (or break them) to get the job done.

"He's a little older, a little more jaded," Schmid shared in a recent interview.

Enter young Gibbs, played by Austin Stowell, a fresh-faced rookie eager to prove himself. He's got the raw talent and the unwavering determination, but he needs guidance, a mentor who can teach him the ropes (and maybe a few off-the-books interrogation techniques).

"We're going to see why Gibbs was who the world fell in love with," Schmid teased.

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