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LL Cool J<\/strong><\/a> is returning to NCIS<\/em><\/a>!<\/p>\n The rapper and actor, 57, shared via an Instagram post Thursday, March 20, that he will reprise his role as Sam Hanna on an April episode of NCIS<\/em> season 22.<\/p>\n \u201cGuess who\u2019s back,\u201d read a video message jointly posted by LL Cool J and the NCIS<\/em> Instagram account. A mysterious figure is then seen wiping the screen to reveal himself as LL Cool J.<\/p>\n \u201cBack on set, baby. NCIS<\/em>. Let\u2019s get it,\u201d he said in the video.<\/p>\n The video concluded with the air date for LL Cool J\u2019s return episode: April 21.<\/p>\n LL Cool J first played former Navy SEAL Sam on an episode of NCIS<\/em> season 6 in May 2009. That episode acted as a backdoor pilot for NCIS: Los Angeles<\/em>, which premiered on CBS that September and ran for 14 seasons through May 2023.<\/p>\n After NCIS: Los Angeles<\/em> concluded, LL Cool J reprised his role as Sam on NCIS: Hawai\u2019i<\/em><\/a> seasons 2 and 3. The show, also starring Vanessa Lachey<\/strong>, was canceled in April 2024 after three seasons. CBS cited the cost of the show and its ratings as the reasons for the cancelation.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is incumbent on us to always keep the schedule fresh, keep momentum going. We had to make some really tough choices this year,\u201d CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach said in May 2024, per Variety<\/em><\/a>. \u201cEverything came back [from the Hollywood strikes] really strong, but ultimately we have to look at the cohesiveness of the schedule flow. We have to evaluate the financials and the performance overall, and we make tough decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n<\/blockquote>\n