The head of CSI will be replaced. William Petersen, star of CBS’ TV series “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” will step off the shoes of his character, Gil Grissom. He will only make guest appearances in the show after his last episode, that is due to be aired at the beginning of the next year. Petersen will also remain executive producer of the crime series.

Obviously, the focus now is on whom will take his position and the new actor has already been drafted in for the role. Laurence Fishburne, whom we’ve seen previously as Morpheus in “Matrix” is the chosen one.

Petersen will be leaving the show in the ninth episode of the tenth season of the Las Vegas-based gig. Fishburne will join the team as a former pathologist and college lecturer teaching criminalistics, interested in the criminal behavior and patterns criminals follow, some of which he also finds in himself, as he has some of the genetic profile identified in killers. The character will meet with the CSI team during a crime investigation and joins them, as CBS revealed.

Fishburne’s previous experience in TV series roles is somehow scarce. He starred in a children’s series from 1986 to 1991, “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” and then appeared mainly in roles designed for the silver screen. He starred in “Othello,” “Mission Impossible III,” “Mystic River” and “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.” During his career he gained an Oscar nomination for best actor in a leading role for “What’s Love Got to Do with It” (1993) and won a Tony and an Emmy Award.

Forty-seven-year old Fishburne revealed that he had never cast an eye on CBS’s series until he was proposed the role; however, he enjoyed those he watched, describing them as “kind of dark and moody, like the work I've been involved in.”

“I am elated and delighted to be joining the cast of CSI,” said Fishburne. “I look forward to a wonderful collaboration with the creative and talented team of such a successful and distinguished show,” he added.

Until now, the name of Fishburne’s character hasn’t been established. The actor is said to start shooting with the “CSI” team the next month. His salary hasn’t been disclosed, however, it is a well-known fact that Petersen was one of US’s best-paid actors working in TV.

Another character of the crime-mystery drama is also leaving. Warrick Brown, played by Gary Dourdan said good-bye to the CBS series at the end of the last series. Media reported that he was to complete a drug counseling program, following an arrest for cocaine and ecstasy possession,