Petersen Will Return Next Season

Grissom isn't leaving just yet.

With William Petersen's (Gil Grissom) contract running out this May, rumors have circulated that the actor would be taking his cue from Jorja Fox (Sara Sidle), who left CSI: Crime Scene Investigation earlier this season. In January, Petersen said the time was coming for him to leave CSI, but he didn't specify when that might be.

According to The Ausiello Report, fans won't have to worry about that day coming this year. Petersen has signed a contract to remain with CSI at least through the 2008-2009 season. The specific details of the contract were not revealed, but it is said to be lucrative and to provide "out" clauses for the actor.

One of those "out" clauses will allow Petersen to perform in Dublin Carol later this year, as was previously announced. There is no word on who might fill in for Petersen if his character takes another sabbatical (as Liev Schreiber did in season seven when Petersen performed Dublin Carol in Rhode Island). There is also no word yet on whether Petersen's costar Marg Helgenberger (Catherine Willows), whose contract also runs out at the end of season eight, has signed a new deal.

The original article is from The Ausiello Report.

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