Marg Helgenberger (L) and William Petersen from the cast of CSI sit together at the 14th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles January 27, 2008. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Laurence Fishburne is in talks to replace William Petersen as the star of CBS’ veteran crime drama “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.”

The search for a new lead has been shrouded in secrecy, but sources say 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.

Fishburne, an Oscar nominee for “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” had been mentioned as one of the “CSI” producers’ top choices for the role, along with John Malkovich and Kurt Russell.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter