Elisabeth Shue Replacing Marg Helgenberger on CSI

Elisabeth Shue is returning to Las Vegas!

The 48-year-old actress, who earned an Oscar nomination for her role in Leaving Las Vegas, has been tapped to replace Marg Helgenberger on CSI beginning in February, CBS announced Friday.

Shue will portray a new CSI, fresh off an anger management course, who may have been fired by D.B. Russell (Ted Danson) when they worked together in Seattle.

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"While it's difficult to say goodbye to a beloved character like Catherine Willows, it's exciting to start a journey with a new CSI, especially when that character is played by Elisabeth Shue," executive producer Carol Mendelsohn said. "The new CSI also struggles with 'brutal honesty issues' and suffers no fools." 

Adds executive producer Don McGill, "Elisabeth's character will share a past, in another crime lab, with Ted Danson's character. The first time, things didn't go so well between the two of them. Maybe the second time's the charm, or not." 

CSI welcomes Ted Danson, prepares to say goodbye to Marg Helgenberger

An original cast member, Helgenberger announced she would exit the series during Season 12. Helgenberger initially planned to walk away at the end of last season, but said she was convinced to stick around for Danson and to give the character a proper send-off. "[I was] having a hard time letting go," she said at the time. "I'm not done playing this character."

Shue will make her first appearance on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 10/9c on CBS.