Breaking news on the much-hyped NCIS spin-off:

It has a name and a star!

LL Cool J has closed his deal to co-star on the series, which will be called NCIS: Los Angeles.

The backdoor pilot for the series will air as a two-part episode of NCIS this spring. The former rapper will portray Special Agent Sam Hanna, a former Navy SEAL who works in the undercover unit of NCIS in Los Angeles.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.