Zuiker Says Season 11 Will Be ‘Explosive’

The man behind the CSI franchise, Anthony Zuiker, is ready to create “magic” as he returns to the writers room for the eleventh season of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. (Spoilers after the jump!)

Zuiker chose to return to the flagship series because that’s where it all began. “The main reason I went back to CSI is to write with my partner in crime [showrunner] Carol Mendelsohn,” he told Deadline Hollywood. “Over the first five seasons, we’ve written many, many scripts together. We have so much fun writing the show. And when I went off to develop, I really missed the day-to-day action of writing episodic television. I’m still developing this season, but wanted write with Carol again. Her and I create magic when we write together.”

Another reason Zuiker wanted to dive back into the original CSI was the Las Vegas setting. “I’ve been in Vegas for 42 years,” he explained. “The town has evolved so much. There’s just so much to write about when it comes to the 2010 Vegas.”

“Being back in the writers room is a real treat,” Zuiker said. “It’s like I never left. Some old faces. Some new. Carol and I are working on all of the scripts together. One of them is about a ‘forensic proof killer’. The villain called ‘Sqweegel’ is from my best-selling novel Level 26: Dark Origins. It’s the first time in history that a villain from a novel has appeared on national television by the same creator, a literary/broadcast cross-over if you will. It stars Ann-Margret and is scary as hell.” As CSI Files previously reported, the episode featuring black Sqweegel will air on October 14.

Zuiker is also glad to be working with the CSI cast again, especially newcomer Laurence Fishburne (Dr Ray Langston). “I think the addition of Laurence Fishburne was a fantastic choice,” he shared. “I really wanted to write for him along with Marg [Helgenberger, Catherine Willows], George [Eads, Nick Stokes], Paul [Guilfoyle, Jim Brass], and Eric [Szmanda, Greg Sanders].” Regarding the news that Helgenberger would be leaving CSI after season eleven, Zuiker said, “Marg Helgenberger is one of the finest actresses in the world. We hope she never leaves the show. She is the heart and soul of the franchise.”

Overall, Zuiker said CSI fans are in for an “explosive” eleventh season. “Justin Bieber stars in the premiere. We have a shark in a pool. A day club gone wild. We’re doing an episode about a vampire and werewolf convention,” he revealed. “The shows are going to be fun, Vegas-centric, and very character-driven.”

Source: Deadline Hollywood. Thanks to speedystokesgirl from TalkCSI for the link!