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William Petersen finds first post-"CSI" role

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-08-06 15:38

In his first screen role since departing "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" last year, William Petersen has joined the cast of an indie high school drama from the director of "American History X."

The cast also of Tony Kaye's "Detachment." also includes Adrien Brody, Bryan Cranston, James Caan and Marcia Gay Harden. Shooting recently began in New York.

Carl Lund's script 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 will play a Vietnam veteran who teaches history. The character gets in trouble when, in a bid to teach tolerance, he shows a gay film in class.

Also new on board are Christina Hendricks ("Mad Men") as a teacher who urges Brody to commit to teaching full-time and might be a romantic interest; and Lucy Liu as a school psychologist frustrated with her students' incompetence.

Petersen left "CSI" after nine seasons, turning his attention to stage work in his native Chicago. He recently completed a run of "The Endgame" at the Steppenwolf Theater after starring in "Blackbird" at the Victory Gardens and in "A Dublin Carol," also at the Steppenwolf.