Is Laurence Fishburne up for a game of musical chairs?
Apparently so.
The Academy Award nominated, Emmy and Tony Award winning thespian is reportedly readying a role on the hit CBS drama series, 'C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation.'It's the classic case of one actor out, and another one in.
We've seen this with 'Law & Order' when Jesse L. Martin departed from his longtime post to make way for Anthony Anderson to join the long running Dick Wolf series.
And when Mandy Patinkin abruptly departed the CBS drama 'Criminal Minds,' Joe Mantegna stepped in on the scene as the show's ringleader.
This fall, Academy Award nominated beauty Angela Bassett will join the cast of NBC's 'E.R.' Mekhi Phifer, who starred on the series as Dr. Gregory Pratt for a few seasons, will depart shortly after.
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Fishburne, who has won raves on Broadway for his portrayal of late civil rights pioneer Thurgood Marshall in the play 'Thurgood,' is reportedly in talks to replace William Petersen who recently exited the show.Ironically, Gary Dourdan – who portrayed Detective Warrick Brown for eight seasons – was let go from the show towards the end of last season.
He was the lone black lead character on the series.
Fishburne, known as a bankable box-office star, has starred in the films 'Apocalypse Now,' 'What's Love Got to do With it?,' the mega-successful 'Matrix' trilogy, 'Akeelah and the Bee' and '21.'
The Augusta, Georgia born actor won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in the 1992 August Wilson play, 'Two Trains Running.'
No official word if the 'C.S.I.' deal is set in place, but all roads are pointing towards that.
According to 'Reuters,' the search for a new lead has been shrouded in secrecy, but Fishburne is being heavily courted to play the new character, described as a doctor/scientist outsider to the CSI unit who has the same genetic profile as a serial killer but hasn't previously acted on any homicidal impulses.
Other top choices for the role include John Malkovich and Kurt Russell.
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Comments: (104)
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By: AFan on 8/07/2008 12:07PM
I'm a huge Fishburne fan, I think he'll make a great addition to this and any project he's apart of. I will definitely watch. Just don't run into him on the streets of New York and expect him to have a warm disposition. That's all....
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By: william couch on 8/07/2008 2:16PM
I think Mr. Fishburne, will do an exlant job,I,ve been a fan since Apocalypse, and I feel they couldn't find a better actor for the job
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By: Deb on 8/18/2008 12:56PM
Wow, I love CSI and I loved Mr. Dourdan in his roll but to snag the quality, class and talent of an actor like Laurence Fishburn is quite the feather in the cap of CSI. I think they better get busy and write some most excellent scripts for this most excellent actor. He has been a power house in everything he has done. He has a way of stealing the show so the other characters better be ready to step up.
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By: AbigFan on 8/07/2008 2:30PM
Another great show bites the dust!! Ohe well, one less show for the DVR!! When it ain't broke why try to fix it!!
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By: ophelia on 8/08/2008 6:02AM
I love CSI. think Laurence Fishburn will be a great addition to the cast
The best part of the show is the great interaction between the characters. Hope it continues.
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By: Jana on 8/07/2008 2:46PM
I will stop watching if Fishburn is added. Bring back Gary and put someone else in the lead. Anybody would be better than Fishburn.
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By: Dadu on 8/07/2008 2:50PM
ANOTHER SHOW BITES THE DUST !!!
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By: Cheryl Kaczmarek on 8/07/2008 2:55PM
I was going to quit watching when they killed off Warrick (Gary's character). There's even less of a reason to watch with both Gary and William gone, even though I like Fishburne. Out of the characters left, only "Nick" is worth the trouble to watch!
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By: Stan Fajkowski on 8/07/2008 3:05PM
CSI was my wife and my favorite show. Even with three main characters departed, we will continue to watch. However, if it declines in story and/or acting, we will move on. We think it is going to be difficult to maintain the same chemistry with a new team.
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By: kathi on 8/07/2008 3:34PM
since william and gary are gone, i dout that i will it if fishbourne is in the lead. evan though the rest of the cast is great,, it only takes 1 bad one to kill A Great Show.
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