Want to know the NCIS: Los Angeles season 9 timeline to filming?

Odds are that if you’re like us, you’re eager already to see NCIS: Los Angeles season 9 on the air, and understandably so. It’s a show that has an identity that’s completely its own, while also still bringing to the table much of the stuff that fans of crime procedurals love.

Unfortunately, at the moment we do still find ourselves engaged in a waiting game until the next new episode airs in the fall — but we do know more about the production schedule ahead now! In a post on Twitter, the show’s longtime unit production manager Rick Tunnell was kind enough to give you a good sense as to when most of the main events for the show this month are going to happen, whether it be location scouting, table reads, and preparing all of the scripts. It’s a pretty busy month, even if the cast doesn’t come in until the end of it.

It’s understandable to wonder why NCIS: Los Angeles films so much later than some of the other fall series out there, especially given that ones like Arrow, The Flash, Criminal Minds, This Is Us, and more are already in production. Sometimes, there are a wide array of different reasons for it — in this case, NCIS: Los Angeles has a good shooting schedule where they can do episodes in a pretty quick amount of time, and they’re also probably aided by the fact that they don’t have the same sort of lengthy post-production as some other shows do. There’s no CGI here, and it makes sense to compress as much of the filming for this show as possible away from the super-hot summer months. There aren’t any problems, after all, that stem from filming in Los Angeles in the winter/spring.

As for what we expect to see unfold story-wise in the upcoming season, a big part of that starts off with the aftermath of the Deeks/Kensi proposal. These two characters will have an opportunity to start some of their wedding planning, though early indications suggest that there will be a few bumps in the road along the way.

Meanwhile, we anticipate Sam Hanna is going to be in a desperate state of mourning still over the loss of his life Michelle. He was the character who really had it all in terms of a wife and a family, and now he’s going to be in a position where he’s a little more untethered. That’s a scary thing to think about for Sam, given that he’s been such a rock for most of the time for the majority of the series’ run. He may need to rely more on others for a change.

What do you think should be coming your way on NCIS: Los Angeles season 9? Be sure to share in the comments below!

Meanwhile, head over to the link here in the event you do want to score some further news and insight now when it comes to the show. (Photo: CBS.)