CSI Revival in the works
- on February 10th, 2020
- in Billy News •
Some exciting news for all CSI fans this afternoon. All the big TV news outlets are reporting a CSI revival could be in the works to celebrate the show’s 20 Anniversary in October.
From The Hollywood Reporter – ‘CSI’ Limited Series Revival in the Works at CBS
The two-time most-watched show in the world will mark its 20th anniversary in October.
CBS is looking to toast the 20th anniversary of one of its most successful franchises with a revival.The network is in talks with CSI: Crime Scene Investigation original series creator Anthony Zuiker, Jerry Bruckheimer and the show’s creative team to bring back the procedural with a new, limited series, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter. CBS and producers CBS TV Studios declined comment as the CSI limited series is still in the dealmaking stages. Reps for Jerry Bruckheimer Television also declined comment.
Jason Tracey (Elementary) will write the script for what sources say will be a limited series designed to help celebrate CSI’s 20th anniversary. The flagship series, which ran for 15 seasons and spawned spinoffs Miami, New York and Cyber, originally premiered on Oct. 6, 2000. Bruckheimer is spearheading the revival and selected Tracey for the job after the latter started his career on the prolific producer’s Just Legal and Cold Case.
Sources say the new potential limited series will be set in Las Vegas, like the flagship that started it all. As for the cast, William Petersen — who led the series for 10 seasons as Gil Grissom and returned for CSI’s two-hour series finale in 2015 — is said to be among the original stars being eyed for a possible return for the untitled drama.
Talks for a CSI revival first started in July 2018 when rumors circulated that a new take could be produced for CBS All Access, the subscription streaming service that is controlled by ViacomCBS-owned CBS TV Studios. Then, last summer, executives at Bruckheimer’s company reminded the studio that 2020 was the flagship’s 20th anniversary. JBTV then reached out to Tracey, who developed the pitch with the company and Zuiker over the summer. The pitch was taken to CBS in October, with the broadcast network engaging. What remains unclear, for now, is if any CSI update would be a short-order and closed-ended one-off series or if it would be a show that could live on (again) for multiple seasons.
From Variety – ‘CSI’ Event Series Revival in Development at CBS
The idea would be to release the new installment in time for the show’s 20th anniversary in October, but no deals are in place as of yet. Original series creator Anthony Zuiker is in talks along with executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer and the show’s creative team. Jason Tracey would write the script. Tracey most recently worked on the CBS series “Elementary” in addition to shows like “Burn Notice” and “Cold Case.”
From Deadline – ‘CSI’ Event Series Eyed By CBS; Original Cast Members May Return
One of television’s biggest drama series franchises is plotting a comeback. I hear CBS is mulling a CSI event series to mark the 20th anniversary of the original series’ October 2000 premiere. The idea is for new installment, from writer Jason Tracey (Elementary), CBS TV Studios and Jerry Bruckheimer TV, to be set in Las Vegas and be a sequel to the mothership CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, sources said. The hope is that the new incarnation would feature original cast members. I hear William Petersen, who headlined CSI for its first nine seasons, and fellow original star Jorja Fox have been approached, but no formal offers have been made.
Sources stress that no deals for the potential CSI revival are done, and that the project is still in early stages and may not come together within a reasonable financial framework. Reps for CBS and CBS TV Studios declined comment.
Hollywood has not got any ideas?! 😀