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June 19, 2013

What do you think about a CSI feature film?

by Allison Waldman, posted Apr 21st 2009 1:24PM

Grissom in blueAre you ready for more CSI? I mean, there's original CSI, CSI: Miami, CSI: New York, NCIS (which isn't part of the franchise, but has the letters), plus all these shows are in reruns and now, William Petersen is ready for a big screen CSI. He's downright positive about it, even though he himself exited the TV show last December. I don't know if a movie version of CSI is really necessary, but to hear Petersen talk, there are some valid reasons.

For his point of view, some stories couldn't be shown on TV because of the graphic or sexual content. He'd like to see a movie version go where no TV CSI has gone before.

And before you point out that Petersen may be in this for the money, remember that Petersen walked away from a hefty weekly salary when he chose to bow out, and as an executive producer, he's still cashing checks. So for Petersen, this seems to really be about finding a great story and putting it on screen. He'd also like to do it before he's too old. "We can't wait for CSI to end or Grissom will be about 90," he told the Radio Times.

While other shows have ventured onto the silver screen with varying degrees of success -- Sex & the City, The X Files -- CSI would be like Star Trek: The Next Generation and The Simpsons in doing a feature while still on the air. There are other examples, too, but why mention McHale's Navy Joins the Air Force.

CSI has had prominent feature directors like William Friedkin (The Exorcist) and Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction) work on TV episodes, so it's possible they could lure a name to do the feature. Presumably the entire cast, including Petersen's replacement Laurence Fishburne, would likely be available, and since Grissom wound up with Sara, she could be included in the film as well. It might be fun.

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CM

The only way this works is if William Peterson returns as Grissom. If he just produces the move then I'd pass.

April 21 2009 at 7:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mike

The episode of CSI that Quentn Tarantino directed involving Nick being buried alive was an incredible 2 hour episode. It was the one time that me, my 3 roommates, and 2 of their girlfriends ever watched anything on TV at the same time. I think the writers are very capable of putting together a good movie especially with a good director like Tarantino involved. And I think consistently push the edge of what is allowed on television so a movie giving them a little more leeway could be really great.

April 21 2009 at 3:56 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
John

Does this mean the CSI people would take more than 45 minutes to solve a series of crimes? Oh no.. that can't be right :P.

April 21 2009 at 3:31 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
divineparasite

The cast has gotten so big on CSI. Who everyone involved be happy with the level of involment? William Peterson and Laurance Fishburne, and proboby Marg Helgenburger would be the main people. But would that mean many of the secondary characters would have one or two scenes in this movie? Hodges, Wendy? I'm not so sure I'd want the main writers writing this movie either, which they probobly will want to. You'd definately have to have Jerry Stahl write it. He's the one that writes all the really dark episodes that usually center around sexual crimes and fetishs.

April 21 2009 at 3:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
anthony

I paid to see the first X-Files movie; guess I'd pay to see this too. I'm sure they could come up with a compelling story involving Grissom. Quite a few of their regular episodes have been better than a lot of movies out there anyway....

April 21 2009 at 2:37 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jimmy

Just a note of correction: Star Trek: TNG had already aired its series finale several months before Star Trek: Generations was released.

April 21 2009 at 2:03 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
JWB

I don't think it would work. Why would people pay for something they can see on tv? A tv movie would work but a big screen feature would only attract die hard CSI fans.

April 21 2009 at 1:45 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to JWB's comment
Jimmy

On a bad week CSI can draw 14 million viewers to their TVs; if even half of them show up that's $60-70 million. Not exactly chump change. If it turns out to be a really good movie, they could double that -- and that's only considering US box office.

THe only way this could really work is if William Petersen returns as Grissom.

April 21 2009 at 2:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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