NCIS: Origins' Star Teases Gibbs and Lala Romance Possibility

Austin Stowell says 'anything is possible' for the partners despite Gibbs' marriage to Diane

Mar. 3, 2026 at 8:19pm

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NCIS: Origins star Austin Stowell exclusively told Us Weekly that despite his character Leroy Jethro Gibbs' marriage to Diane Sterling, the possibility of a romantic connection between Gibbs and his partner Lala Dominguez (Mariel Molino) is still on the table. Stowell said 'anything is possible' when it comes to the two characters, even with Gibbs' predetermined fate from the original NCIS series.

Why it matters

Fans have been eager to see Gibbs and Lala take their partnership to the next level, and this tease from Stowell suggests the show may subvert expectations and bring the two together, despite Gibbs' marital status. The relationship between the two characters has been a central focus of the NCIS: Origins prequel series.

The details

In the NCIS: Origins season 2 midseason finale, Gibbs married his second wife Diane Sterling (Kathleen Kenny), disappointing some fans who were hoping for a romance between Gibbs and Lala. However, Stowell said Gibbs is 'already married, so to speak, once in real life, but he's also married to the job' and that his marriage to Diane is part of his journey to 'move forward from his first marriage that ended so tragically.' Meanwhile, Lala's actress Mariel Molino has said the timing just hasn't been right for a relationship with Gibbs, as he is trying to 'protect his heart' after Lala nearly died in a car accident.

  • In the NCIS: Origins season 2 midseason finale in December 2025, Gibbs married his second wife, Diane Sterling.
  • NCIS: Origins returns on CBS Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at 9 p.m. ET.

The players

Austin Stowell

The actor who plays Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the NCIS: Origins prequel series.

Mariel Molino

The actress who plays Lala Dominguez, Gibbs' partner, in NCIS: Origins.

Leroy Jethro Gibbs

The lead character in NCIS: Origins, a young version of the Gibbs character from the original NCIS series.

Diane Sterling

Gibbs' second wife, who he married in the NCIS: Origins season 2 midseason finale.

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What they’re saying

“I think anything is possible.”

— Austin Stowell

“Even though we can't play out this love, we can play out the subtleties of wanting someone and how that affects you in every aspect of your life, through work, in your career [and] in your personal life. You just want to prove them wrong or make them proud.”

— Mariel Molino

“As much as he has incredible feelings for Lala, he's trying to protect his heart from the thought of losing her again.”

— Mariel Molino

What’s next

Fans will have to tune in to see if Gibbs and Lala's relationship takes a romantic turn in future episodes of NCIS: Origins.

The takeaway

The possibility of a Gibbs and Lala romance remains open, despite Gibbs' marriage to Diane, as the NCIS: Origins prequel series continues to explore the complexities of Gibbs' personal and professional life in the 1990s.