How Hollywood strikes helped NCIS: Sydney take on US market
A silver lining in what’s been a gruelling year for actors has emerged for the cast of NCIS: Sydney. The show has landed a prime time slot in the United States on a major network.
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In a case of life imitating art, the Australian-American friendships forged on NCIS: Sydney are also set to play out in a mutually beneficial business deal between Paramount+ and CBS.
The actors union SAG-AFTRA responded to Hollywood studios’ “last, best & final offer” on Tuesday, telling its members there are “essential items” the two sides have yet to reach agreement on, such as the use of AI.
The locally filmed NCIS: Sydney was originally planned for an Australian only release, however CBS commissioned the series to help fill holes in the network’s schedules as the Hollywood strikes surpassed 115 days.
That means the first iteration of the juggernaut franchise set outside of the U.S., will also be the first to be consumed by U.S. audiences in 20 years.
International cast members Olivia Swann and Sean Sagar have flown back to Sydney to reunite with their Australian counterparts Todd Lasance, Tuuli Narkle, and Mavournee Hazel ahead of a glamorous launch event on Friday.
“It’s the dream,” Spartacus star Lasance told The Daily Telegraph.
“As actors, you spend your entire career chasing a big role in a prime time series and think: ‘I’m never going to get that’. For me personally, there’s pride in having a series of this scale shot in Sydney.”
He added that the familial bonds formed between the cast are “like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. It’s been one of the highlights of my life”.
The spin-off series kicks off when an American Submariner dies during a ceremony honouring Australia and the United States’ alliance under the AUKUS agreement. American NCIS Agents and Australian AFP Officers are thrust together in a joint investigation.
The Aussie cast spent a lot of time with the real AFP.
“I’ve learned a lot about cocaine, narcotics signatures, bombs... I’m worried about my search history,” Hazel, who plays AFP Forensic Scientist Blue said. “It was really sobering.”
Special Agent Michelle Mackey (Swann) and her “Aussie larrikin” 2IC Sergeant Jim “JD” Dempsey (Lasance), must quickly learn to trust each other.
NCIS: Sydney’s investigations take the team into the world of exotic animal smuggling, underwater drones, doggie cafés, and glitzy tech launches; all set against the backdrop of a glittering Sydney Harbour.
There’s a certain amount of pressure given the OG flagship – with Mark Harmon as the prickly Jethro Gibbs – has cemented itself as one of the world’s most successful TV drama franchises.
In the States alone, the military police procedural series has amassed more than 4.1 trillion minutes viewed during its 20 years on TV.
“I hope the fans jump on this too,” Lasance said. “It’s such a huge franchise to live up to, but we hope we created something special that represents our culture and geography here, the characters, and the NCIS elements that audiences will recognise.”
NCIS: Sydney launches on Paramount+ on Friday, with new episodes dropping weekly.
Originally published as How Hollywood strikes helped NCIS: Sydney take on US market
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