LL Cool J Reprises Sam Hanna in New 'NCIS: New York' Spinoff

LL Cool J is returning to the NCIS franchise. The veteran rapper and actor will reprise his longtime role of Sam Hanna for the procedural's new spinoff, "NCIS: New York."

The news confirms that the character Hanna — whom LL Cool J played across the long run of "NCIS: Los Angeles" — will carry over into the new series set in New York. The move marks a homecoming of sorts for the performer, whose full name is James Todd Smith, as he remains one of the few constants linking the spinoff to the original Los Angeles-based show.

Who is Sam Hanna?

Sam Hanna is the character LL Cool J has portrayed since "NCIS: Los Angeles" began, making him one of the defining faces of that series. A former Navy SEAL turned NCIS investigator, Hanna anchored the Los Angeles team for the show's entire run. The announcement that he will appear in "NCIS: New York" means the franchise keeps one of its most recognizable performers in the fold.

What does the return signal for the franchise?

For LL Cool J, the pick-up continues a screen career that runs parallel to his work in music. He built his reputation first as a rapper — his debut came when he was still a teenager, and he is widely credited as one of the flagship artists of his label's early era — before shifting into acting, where the NCIS role became his longest-running part.

The decision to build the new spinoff around a returning lead follows the franchise's established pattern: each installment has traded on familiar characters and a proven procedural format while shifting the city and the cast around them.

What comes next?

The spinoff does not yet have a premiere date, and the network has not announced which other cast members will join LL Cool J. What is certain is that Sam Hanna — and the performer who has played him for years — will be back on screens when "NCIS: New York" arrives.