Spin-offs seem to be all the rage this month, with NCIS becoming the latest show to be expanding its franchise. CBS announced they would be expanding their popular NCIS franchise, a show centred on the fictional police branch, the Naval Criminal Investigation Service. The fictional police organisation already has branches in Washington D.C. and Los Angeles, but a third New Orleans base will feature in a spin-off series slated to air next spring. 

Mark Harmon
Mark Harmon will be producing the NCIS spin-off.

The original part of the franchise stars Mark Harmon and Michael Weatherley as the two agents; whilst Chris O'Donnell and LL Cool J aka Sam Hanna stars in NCIS: Los Angeles. Harmon will act as the executive producer of the series; and the showrunner Gary Glasberg will also have a producer's credit.

NCIS: New Orleans (it's likely to be called) will follow a team of officers as they solve crimes from Pensacola to Mississippi and Louisiana to Texas, according to Deadline. Furthermore according to the entertainment website, New Orleans was chosen due to "of its pedigree of a rich setting of music, fun and debauchery that makes it a magnet for military personnel on-leave." The New Orleans based series of the NCIS franchise is due to begin filming early next year, with the two part pilot airing next Spring.

NCIS is not the only show to be treated to a spin-off; other shows include The Walking Dead with a spin-off which hopes to "create a new corner of The Walking Dead universe." Breaking Bad, due to end next Sunday, will also have a spin-off with the working title Better Call Saul. The series will focus on Walter White's sleazy lawyer Saul Goodman.

LL Cool J
LL Cool J stars in NCIS: Los Angeles.

Chris O'Donnell
Chris O'Donnell stars in the Los Angeles spin-off.