Written by on Jun 18, 2014. Posted in On Location

NCIS New Orleans crime drama spinoff commits to Louisiana location filming

The Louisiana-set spinoff to the long-running US crime drama NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) will film on location in New Orleans. A two-part pilot filmed scenes in the city earlier this year, but studio work was shot in Los Angeles.

NCIS: New Orleans will initially film 13 episodes in the city and will take advantage of Louisiana’s generous filming incentive, reports the Advocate in New Orleans.

“I’m thrilled from a business standpoint that the tax credit exists,” said Gary Glasberg, the series Creator and Executive Producer, in comments to the outlet: “I can’t replicate New Orleans and do it as well as I want. It’s such a unique part of the world that I feel very fortunate that we can film this there. Everything will be done in Louisiana.”

Chris Stelly, Executive Director of the Louisiana Office of Entertainment Industry Development, explained that the production could deliver a huge boost for the regional economy, and potentially on a long-term basis. NCIS has been running for 12 seasons and has already produced established spinoff series NCIS: Los Angeles.

“The secondary benefits that a successful show can have in terms of tourism [and] brand recognition, is immeasurable,” Stelly told the outlet: “I look forward to NCIS: New Orleans becoming a mainstay of network television and a vibrant part of our motion picture industry.”

I’m thrilled from a business standpoint that the tax credit exists. I can’t replicate New Orleans and do it as well as I want. It’s such a unique part of the world.

Gary Glasberg, Series Creator/Executive Producer

Like many of America’s most popular crime series, NCIS is filmed in California despite a Washington, DC, setting. Similarly long-running drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is set in Las Vegas and spawned spinoff shows set in New York and Miami, but all three shows have been filmed mainly in California. NCIS: New Orleans is set to break from the TV industry tradition.

Louisiana’s filming incentive has also helped build a thriving regional film industry, with recent high-profile features including Jurassic World and Terminator 5.

(Images: CBS)