Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix Trilogy, Deep Cover, 21) is replacing William Petersen on the CBS show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, according to a story on The Hollywood Reporter site.
The actor is scheduled to make his first appear in the ninth episode of the show’s upcoming season, which also sees veteran cast-member Gary Dourdan suddenly off the show, after being murdered in the 8th season finale. Fishburne will play a former pathologist, now working as a college lecturer teaching criminalistics. During a murder investigation, he comes into contact with the CSI team and ultimately joins crime lab as a Level-1 CSI.
The paper goes on the report that Fishburne and Petersen will appear together in two episodes, involved in a case together in Episodes 9 and 10.
Producers won’t say how Petersen will actually leave the show yet.