Image Credit: Tony Barson/WireImage.com William Petersen has accepted his first screen role since CSI, and his first part in a feature in 10 years. He’s joined Adrien Brody in the indie drama Detachment from American History X director Tony Kaye. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the story centers on “a normally detached substitute teacher (Brody) who becomes invested in the students and teachers at the troubled school where he works and grows close to a homeless teen working as a prostitute.” Petersen, who’s focused on theater since leaving CSI, will play a history-teaching Vietnam vet who causes a stir when he shows a gay film in class to promote tolerance. Mad Men‘s Christina Hendricks is a fellow teacher and potential love interest for Brody’s character, while Lucy Liu is the school’s frustrated psychologist.
This sounds like a meaty, layered role for Petersen, and the prospect of him acting opposite Brody, who shares his quiet intensity, is intriguing. Have you missed Petersen? Is this the right project to make his return? With Kaye at the helm, I’m not expecting the cliché feel-good troubled teen pic. He’s got me curious.
Christina Hendricks is in this? Way to bury the lead! (Although, that’s probably just me.)
Agreed that it seems like an interesting project, especially with Kaye on board.
Totally not just you.
I was there!!!! He is awesomee
Yeah, Christina Hendricks being in it does seem like the bigger story. She’s much more current because of Mad Men.
I’ve never watched CSI, but I really liked William Peterson as Pat Garret in Young Guns 2.
I guess Christina Hendricks is more current, but 8 to 10 times more people watch CSI every week than Mad Men.
Mad Men? I watch them every day, in traffic…
They’re on TV too?
I loved American History X, and hello, it’s FRICKIN CHRISTINA HENDRICKS.
The cast sounds great – except for Lucy Liu. I’m on board for the rest of it, tho. I love Grissom!
What have you got against Lucy Liu? Did you not see Kill Bill? She was awesome.
Peterson is so hot. Can’t wait to see him on the big screen!
I LOVE William Petersenj, too! I am so glad he is coming back!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE WILLIAM PETERSEN AND C.S.I GIL GRISSOM WATCH ALL 192 WILL STARTD IN CANT WAIT TILL HE BACK ON TV
He was good in To Live and Die In LA
He was great in Manhunter
Uh, he’s great in EVERYTHING.
This is going to be my must see film of 2011!
nothing could make me happier than to have william Petersen back on any screen. Must see this one as it sounds great
I saw Billy in the play “Blackbird” last year in Chicago but I’m so looking forward to seeing him on the big screen. It sounds like the type of role I associate with him; complex, small but meaty…and anything but typical.
Woo! Yay Billy Im so happy for you! Ive been a huge fan since I was 10 years old! Love you! xx
Hey Bill…Congrats on the new movie. So happy that I can tell everyone I once worked with you at the cafe in Chicago. You are one talented guy and am so proud of you. It was a blast watching you on the journey to stardom…
I feel that the show went down hill once he left.
I like that show Las vegas CIS best. I would like to have William Petersen back in the show. The poll will rank up more than you thought.
Thle show has definitely gone downhill since Petersen left. The chemistry isn’t there with Lawrence Fishburne. I think that the show would be better without him. Remember Petersen in “Mistic Pizza”?
Remember Petersen in Mystic Pizza”? What a cast that film had. I wish he’d come back to CSI.