Robert Carlyle will play Sherlock Holmes in “Watson” Season 2 at CBS, Variety has learned.
Carlyle will play the legendary detective in a recurring guest star role opposite Morris Chestnut, who plays the titular Dr. John Watson. Other cast members for Season 2 include Eve Harlow, Peter Mark Kendall, Ritchie Coster, Inga Schlingmann, and Rochelle Aytes. Randall Park previously appeared in the series as Holmes and Watson’s arch-nemesis, Professor James Moriarty.
Carlyle is now the second actor to portray Holmes on CBS in recent years, after Johnny Lee Miller played the character for seven seasons on the procedural “Elementary.”
“We are thrilled to have the mighty Robert Carlyle join the cast of ‘Watson’ in Season 2,” said series showrunner Craig Sweeny. “The man has played iconic roles in projects like ‘Trainspotting,’ ‘The Full Monty,’ and ’28 Weeks Later’… and now he steps into the shoes of the most iconic detective of all, Sherlock Holmes. When Watson’s best friend and former partner makes a shocking reappearance in his life, Watson is forced to confront their shared past—and a secret that may lie buried within Watson’s own body.”
In addition to the aforementioned films, Carlyle is known for his roles in features such as “The World Is Not Enough,” “Angela’s Ashes,” and “The 51st State.” In television, he previously starred in the ABC series “Once Upon a Time” as well as “Stargate Universe,” the BBC’s “The War of the Worlds” miniseries, and “The Full Monty” TV series at FX.
He is repped by Link Entertainment, Gersh, and Hamilton Hodell.
“Watson” was renewed for a second season back in March. In the show, Dr. Watson opens a clinic specializing in rare and unique conditions in the wake of Holmes’ apparent death. The official description for Season 2 states, in part, “With his eyes fixed on the future, Watson faces an unexpected twist when Sherlock Holmes, who was presumed dead, resurfaces, forcing him to confront a buried secret from his past—one that lies hidden within his own body.”
Season 2 of “Watson” will premiere on Oct. 13 at 10 p.m. ET on CBS and stream the next day on Paramount+. Both Sweeny and Chestnut are executive producers on the show along with Larry Teng, Shäron Moalem MD, PhD, Aaron Kaplan and Brian Morewitz. CBS Studios produces.