No mission seems impossible for the NCIS: Origins team or action hero Tom Cruise — but the two worlds colliding wasn’t on fans’ 2025 bingo card.
NCIS: Origins coshowrunner David J. North shared behind-the-scenes photos of Cruise’s impromptu visit to the show’s set via Instagram on Thursday, October 16, including a FaceTime session with Emilio Estevez.
“As we kick off a new season of Origins, it was awesome to have @tomcruise stop by yesterday to hang out and show some much support to our show and the entire @ncisverse,” North captioned the snaps.
North revealed that he and fellow showrunner Gina Lucita Monreal took “inspo from the bar in Top Gun when we dreamt up our bar, Daly’s. So we were stoked he approved lol,” referring to Cruise’s iconic role as Maverick in the military film.
“Thanks for all the advice and the love, Tom,” North added.
In one photo, Cruise, 63, smiled alongside North as they stood in the set of the Naval beach bar from the show. The Mission: Impossible star wore all black for the occasion, including black jeans, a black button-down shirt and black shoes.
Cruise also spent time with star Austin Stowell, who plays Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs on the NCIS prequel. “Gibbs & Hunt NCIS: Impossible,” Stowell, 40, captioned an Instagram Story photo of the pair laughing in the NCIS office.
While many fans were hopeful that Cruise’s appearance on set signifying a possible cameo on the CBS series, it appears he just happened to be nearby when the moment transpired. (Luxury Handbag Shopping has reached out to the network for comment.)
The official NCIS Universe Instagram account seemingly confirmed that Cruise is not a guest star — and was just stopping by to say hello — with their own photo upload.
“A VIP on set! ✨👏,” the caption read alongside a cast photo with Cruise. “While on the @paramountco lot, Tom Cruise stopped by the set of NCIS: Origins to say hi! #NCIS #Origins #TomCruise.”
Cruise’s fun didn’t stop there, he also FaceTimed his friend Estevez, 63, while on set and they rated Caleb Foot doing a scene where he swept his hand and said, “I’m moving. I’m moving!” (Foot plays Special Agent Bernard “Randy” Randolph.)
“Emilio’s looking like that was horrible,” one of the crew members said off camera as Estevez shook his head in disapproval. The funny moment caused everyone in the room to laugh and got a big smile from Cruise.
While the Estevez phone call might surprise some fans, the NCIS: Origins crew wasn’t as shocked as the actor’s son Taylor Estevez is the special effects foreman on the show. Taylor posed for a photo with Cruise as he held the phone up with Emilio’s face on it.
Although Cruise not making a TV cameo this season is disappointing, fans of NCIS: Origins are happy now that Special Agent Lala Dominguez’s (Mariel Molino) fate has been revealed.
During the season 2 premiere on Tuesday, October 14, viewers learned that Lala survived her deadly car crash that transpired at the end of season 1. Her relationship with Gibbs, however, is rocky at best.
While the pair shared a near kiss during the season 1 finale — which many fans rejoiced over — the fact that Gibbs almost lost Lala pushed him into the arms of realtor Diane (Kathleen Kenny), who in the OG NCIS is one of his ex-wives.
NCIS: Origins airs on CBS Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET.
