When NCIS returns, Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon) and Timothy McGee (Sean Murray) will be attacked overseas by the Russians. Executive Producer Gary Glasberg dished on the drama ahead.

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"Well, there's certainly a lot politically going on in that part of the world right now and it was a storyline that I was kind of drawn to for the opener and I think we came up with something that certainly is super action packed and flips McGee and Gibbs in an interesting, different scenario and we'll have to see where it leads throughout the season," he told TVFanatic.com.

He also revealed why he decided to pair up McGee and Gibbs, when the latter is usually accompanied by Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly). However, this time around, DiNozzo is handling things at the office.

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"We all know that the Gibbs-Tony combo is an extremely strong one and we always want to do a story that often sets them off on their own. At the same time it's really nice to have Tony to anchor things back at headquarters when something significant is going on for Gibbs and Sean [Murray] has just been so fantastic," Glasberg revealed.

"Last season he was amazing, this season he's been extraordinary. You know, it's just fun to watch Sean and Mark [Harmon] work together and this was a really challenging episode that set them out there in the woods and, even with McGee's Boy Scout training, which has been established, gave them something fun to play. So we had a good time. It was a tough episode to film but everybody had a good time making it."

Season 12 of the CBS show will premiere at 8/7c on Tuesday, Sept. 23. The new spin-off, NCIS: New Orleans, will kick off right after.

Tags: NCIS