Laurence Fishburne renews 'CSI' deal

Exclu: The leader of the "CSI" team will stay in charge for another season.

Laurence Fishburne has renewed his deal to remain on CBS’ veteran crime drama "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation." The agreement will extend the Emmy-winning star’s commitment to the show through the 2010-11 season.

In the upcoming Season 10 finale, Fishburne will face off against two serial killers in a battle of wits that will conclude in a life-and-death cliffhanger.

One villain is played by Matt Ross ("Big Love") in a guest-starring role. The other is Bill Irwin, who reprises his role as Nate Haskell, the Dick and Jane Killer. Veteran actor Marty Ingels also is in talks to guest star in the finale.

Fishburne, who’s repped by Paradigm and Landmark Artists Management, took over for William Petersen two seasons ago in one of the richer casting deals on TV. Ross is repped by ICM and Framework; Irwin by Innovative and Viking.

With Fishburne front and center, the CBS Prods. and Jerry Bruckheimer series has continued to be a solid performer for CBS on Thursday nights, anchoring its 9 p.m. hour.

During the summer, Fishburne will appear in Robert Rodriguez’s highly anticipated "Predators" reboot and next year will appear in Steven Soderbergh’s "Contagion." He also will be starring onstage in "Thurgood" in Washington and Los Angeles.