NCIS: Los Angeles crossover with JAG will bring back another classic cast member

NCIS: Los Angeles is set to go back to its roots – literally – as it's recruited another classic character from JAG.

The police procedural previously signed up David James Elliott for a multi-episode arc as his JAG character Navy Captain Harmon Rabb Jr.

And now it's been confirmed that Catherine Bell, aka Lt Col Sarah 'Mac' MacKenzie, is also coming along for the ride.

Related: NCIS needs to let go of Ziva David and move on

In case you didn't know, the NCIS franchise actually spawned from legal drama JAG, which ended its impressive 10-season run in 2005.

The May 12 episode, called 'The Guardian', will see the captain work with Callen (Chris O'Donnell) and Sam (LL Cool J) as the NCIS team uncover ISIS sympathisers who plan to attack US aircraft carriers.

Bell, meanwhile, will appear in the season finale the following week.

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Executive producer R Scott Gemmill said in a statement: "Catherine's Mac was a strong, smart woman who held her own, and then some, in a male-dominated world. Her character paved the way for other strong female leads.

"Not only is it great to be working together again as friends, but to be able to write for Catherine and have her same character interact with our NCIS: Los Angeles characters now, that's wonderfully surreal. It feels like everything has come full circle."

Gemmill had earlier said of bringing back Elliott: "I was really excited to get a chance to work with David again.

"I did the first 4 seasons of JAG with him so to be able to work together again in and of itself is great – but to do so with the same character... on our show... this many years later – that's pretty damn amazing.

"Bringing Harmon Rabb to work with NCIS: Los Angeles makes for a formidable coalition, and both entities are going to need all the help they can get when confronted with the greatest challenge of their careers."

We're certainly looking forward to a dose of nostalgia.

NCIS: Los Angeles airs on CBS in the US and on Sky One in the UK.

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Sam Warner

Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International.  Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.