The series Navy CIS has been running since 2003. However, its creator left production after four seasons. Depending on whom you ask, you will receive different reasons for this.
Which series is it about? Navy CIS, commonly referred to as NCIS, is an American crime series that has been airing since 2003. So far, there are a total of 21 seasons.
The series tells of a group of investigators from the US Navy who solve various crimes. For many years, Mark Harmon played Jeroy Jethro Gibbs, who led his team.
Although the series is still running today, one of the two creators of the series was only involved for four seasons. After just five years, Donald P. Bellisario left the project. The reason for this remains unclear to this day.
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Two versions of the same story
Why did the production separate from its creator? Although NCIS has become a fixture in the American television landscape over the years, the production was anything but easy at the beginning.
And here could already lie the reason for the split from series creator Bellisario. The writer apparently had a rather idiosyncratic way of working. As executive producer Charley Floyd revealed, Bellisario discarded entire scripts just before filming.
The actors sometimes did not know what they would be playing next or what would happen to their character. The dialogues were also difficult to understand for some, which further hampered the work.
Particularly, lead actor Mark Harmon was disturbed by the circumstances. This led to differences between the two. According to producer Floyd, Harmon did not say that Bellisario had to leave the series, but he did apply pressure and called working with him “difficult”.
Subsequently, the production asked the series creator to step back. And eventually, that happened as well.
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What does Bellisario say himself? If you ask the person concerned, the story sounds a little different. While the production likely thought it was best for the series to part ways with Bellisario, he cites a different reason for his departure.
It was simply time to do something else and move on. I had done enough for the show, so I left. It was my decision.
Donald P. Bellisario via jeuxvideo.com
So it sounds as if the conflict with the lead actor was not, at least for Bellisario, a reason for parting with the series. It also seems to have been voluntary. Despite everything, Bellisario retained his credit as Executive Producer in the credits.
By the way, NCIS has not suffered from this at all. In addition to the 21 seasons, there are further spin-offs which are set in Los Angeles, Hawaii, or Sydney, among other places.
The fascination for the series seems to continue to exist, even without the former creative mind behind it. The creator of Game of Thrones was also not entirely satisfied with how the related series ended.
