Lucy Liu to Play Watson in CBS' Sherlock Holmes Drama Pilot

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Lucy Liu

CBS' Sherlock Holmes pilot, Elementary, will indeed be a modern take on the famed story.

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For the first time, Holmes' famed sidekick, Watson, will be played by a woman with Lucy Liu nabbing the part, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

Described as a modern take on the cases of Sherlock Holmes, with the detective now living in New York City, Dexter killer Jonny Lee Miller has been tapped to star in the project.

Liu's casting continues the Charlie's Angels co-star's return to the small screen with the actress currently appearing on TNT's Southland.

“I’ve loved being on Southland because it’s not a pampered environment," Liu told THR at Saturday's Independent Spirit Awards. "You’re really doing it and you’re doing it live. Sometimes you don’t even know how you got there in that scene! There’s something really wonderful about that. I like being able to do indie films and TV.  It’s a good balance for me.”

Robert Doherty will write and executive produce the CBS TV Studios project, with CBS vet Sarah Timberman (A Gifted Man, Unforgettable) and Carl Beverly on board as executive producers.

Liu becomes the first woman to play the popular sidekick, most recently played on the big-screen by Jude Law. She joins a roster of actors who have filled the role, including Nigel Bruce, Roland Young, Reginald Owen, Ben Kingsley, Arthur Lowe, Dudley Moore, James Mason, Robert Duvall, Martin Freeman and Ian Hart, among others.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit