NCIS: Origins has found its Mason Franks in Strike Back star

It’s time for NCIS: Origins to get a new face. The second season is almost here, and Mike Franks will get some surprises.

Philip Winchester from Strike Back and Chicago Justice is joining the season as a very important player in the game. It’s time for Mike to face some family drama and some secrets, as it turns out that Mike doesn’t know everything he once thought.

“The Funky Bunch” – NCIS: Origins. Pictured (L-R): Austin Stowell as Leroy Jethro Gibbs and Kyle Schmid as Mike Franks. Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS ©2025 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Philip Winchester will play Mason Franks in NCIS: Origins season 2

Deadline has confirmed that Winchester will take on the role of Mason Franks, Mike’s elder brother who was once believed MIA in the Vietnam War. At the end of the NCIS: Origins season 1 finale, Mike got the surprising news that Mason was alive, despite for years, Mike believing that his brother must have been dead since he was missing.

There is a huge backstory between the two brothers, with Mason enlisting to prevent Mike from being drafted into the Vietnam War. It was a huge sacrifice that Mike lived with considering Mason was believed to be MIA (and even killed) for the longest time. This was something that played on Mike’s mind a lot, and we saw his unresolved trauma spill out now and then in the first season of the prequel series.

“Flight of Icarus” – The team investigates the death of a famed Marine commander’s son, while a pivotal part of Franks’ past involving his family is revealed, on NCIS: ORIGINS, Monday, Jan. 27 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs)*. Pictured (L-R): Kyle Schmid as Mike Franks. Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS ©2024

Mason needs Mike’s help in NCIS: Origins

Not only will Mason show back up, but he also needs Mike’s help. Despite for the longest time believed to be missing and even dead, it turns out that Mason had a ranch in Texas. Now Mason is going to show up for some help, as he’s fallen on hard times and is at risk of losing the family ranch.

Of course, this will bring up questions. If Mason was alive and well this whole time, why didn’t he reach out to Mike to let him know? Why would he allow Mike to believe that he was dead this whole time?

Mike will have more to deal with at the start of NCIS: Origins season 2, other than his brother returning. Lala was involved in a car accident when she swerved to avoid hitting a child. Her life was left on the line during the summer hiatus, and we still have no idea whether she’ll be dead or alive in the NCIS: Origins season 2 premiere.

All we know for now is that Mason will appear in the fourth episode of NCIS: Origins. We’re excited to see what this means for Mike.

NCIS: Origins season 2 premieres on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 9/8c on CBS.

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