Actor Laurence Fishburne topped CSI exec producers' "dream list" and has officially signed on to appear as a regular on the forthcoming season of the CBS series as William Petersen's pseudo replacement.

An Emmy, Tony and Academy Award nominated actor, Fishburne will be introduced in the ninth episode of the upcoming 10th season, the network told The Associated Press on Monday. He'll play a forensics scientist with a secret.

According to CBS, Fishburne's part will "focus on understanding criminal behavior, how and why people commit acts of violence -- tendencies he disturbingly sees within himself. In the course of a murder investigation, he comes into contact with the CSI team and ultimately joins the Las Vegas Crime Lab as a Level-1 CSI."

"I am elated and delighted to be joining the cast of `CSI,'" Fishburne, who is currently appearing on Broadway in a one-man show about the life of Justice Thurgood Marshall, said in a statement, adding that he looked forward to a "wonderful collaboration" with those involved in the series.

Described by the show executives as "a powerful and intense actor with an incredible range" Fishburne is set to join the show following thesp William Petersen's decision to depart after eight seasons (Petersen will continue his work as an exec producer).

"Mr. Fishburne is also a talented writer and director. If you distill CSI down to its essence, it's a collaboration, and we are so looking forward to collaborating with Mr. Fishburne. For all of us at CSI, this is truly a dream," CSI executive producers Carol Mendelsohn and Naren Shankar said in a statement.