CSI: Vegas: Marg Helgenberger will return as Catherine Willows

Update: It seems those talks have concluded as Marg Helgenberger has signed on to reprise her role of Catherine Willows for the second season of CSI: Vegas. Much like William Petersen’s deal for the first season, Deadline says that Helgenberger has also inked a one-year deal. Deadline added that this could be the blueprint for CSI: Vegas moving forward, with a different original star headlining each serialized season.

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The first season of CSI: Vegas featured the return of William Petersen and Jorja Fox as Gil Grissom and Sara Sidle, which was a big treat for long-time fans. Although CBS has renewed the series for a second season, neither Petersen or Fox will be returning. However, CSI: Vegas may indeed include some CSI royalty after all as TVLine has reported that Marg Helgenberger is in talks to return.

Marg Helgenberger played Catherine Willows in the original CSI from the very beginning but left the series part way through the twelfth season. She did make several guest appearances following her departure, including in the series finale, but it would be exciting to see her again.

William Petersen had only signed on for the first season of CSI: Vegas (he’ll remain onboard as an executive producer) and Jorja Fox decided not to return for the second season based on Petersen’s decision. “After much deliberating, I have decided not to ‘Sidle up’ for CSI Vegas,” Fox said. “For me, CSI has always been a love story. The story that people can find love in the darkest of places and times. And the story that love, even in the darkest of places and times, can expand and grow roots and endure. I personally just can’t split Sara and Grissom up again. So goes Grissom…..So goes Sara. Wherever they go, they belong together.“ In addition to the departure of William Petersen and Jorja Fox, Mel Rodriguez, who co-starred as Chief Medical Examiner Hugo Ramirez, will also be leaving the series.

The first season of CSI: Vegas opened a “brand new chapter in Las Vegas, the city where it all began” as the city faces an “existential threat that could bring down the Crime Lab, a brilliant team of forensic investigators must welcome back old friends and deploy new techniques to preserve and serve justice in Sin City.” Although the ratings for CSI: Vegas didn’t reach the heights of the original series, it did perform well when delayed viewing/streaming numbers were taken into account. Season 2 of CSI: Vegas will premiere during the 2022-2023 broadcast season. Would you like to see Marg Helgenberger return as Catherine Willows for the second season of CSI: Vegas?