Matthew Gray Gubler is set to return to CBS, but not forCriminal Minds: Evolutionseason 3, as he’ll instead lead the proceduralEinstein. Gubler was notablyone of the few long-timeCriminal Mindscast membersnot to reprise his role forEvolution, which disappointed fans who enjoyed his portrayal as Dr. Spencer Reid. Even though the actor is open to reprising the fan-favorite character, he has largely kept away from TV roles in recent years except for a recurring part on the short-lived Hulu seriesDollface. That will soon change.
Deadlineconfirms thatGubler will lead theEinsteinpilot for CBS. The actor will also produce the pilot, which hails fromMonkcreator Andy Breckman and director Randy Zisk. A procedural with comedic undertones in a similar vein toMonk, theEinsteinpilot will follow the great-grandson of Albert Einstein, who is played by Gubler.
The grandson spends his days as a professor, comfortable in his job, until his wild tendencies get him in trouble with the law. From there, he is pressured into helping a local police detective solve her most puzzling cases.The character is named Lew Einstein. He’s a popular professor at Princeton, though he does not always show up for his classes. Lew is described as “irreverent and misguided.” His genius and famous last name puts extra weight on his shoulders, though the enew gig may give his life some sense of direction.
Einsteinhails from CBS Studios, which co-producesCriminal Minds: Evolution. If the pilot gets picked up to series, that may pave the way for Gubler to appear as Dr. Reid inCriminal Minds: Evolution, since it would be easier to sync up schedules. That remains speculative, but Gubler andEvolutionshowrunner Erica Messer saidscheduling conflicts played a role in Spencer Reid not returning.
Why Gubler’s Einstein Casting Is Significant
CBS Is A Big Part Of The Actor’s Career
TheEinsteinpilot, which was written by Breckman with Zisk directing, leans into Gubler’s well-known performance as Dr. Reid. Both are geniuses, with theCriminal Mindscharacter holding a PhD in Mathematics, Chemistry, and Engineering.The characters are considerably different in personality,however, as Reid can hardly be described as a wild bad boy.
TheEinsteinpilot is executive produced by Breckman and Zisk, alongside Intrigue’s Tariq Jalil, Rose Hughes, Rodrigo Herrera Ibarguengoytia, and Laura Beetz for Seven One Studios International.
If the pilot gets picked up, Gubler’s long-established relationship with CBS will continue. The actor joined theoriginalCriminal Mindscastshortly after graduating from college.He remained part of the original series for its complete 15-seasonrun on CBS, directing several episodes.
He’s since written two children’s books, with his second titledThe Little Kid with the Big Green Hand. It came out last year and became a hit. On the big screen, Gubler appeared inHorse GirlandKing Knightjust asCriminal Mindsended. But with theEinsteinpilot, the actor is going back to familiar territory. He’s doing so with a premise that has needed a few turns to get going.
This Is Einstein’s Third Try As A Series
A Previous Version Was Gender-Swapped
If the premise forEinsteinsounds familiar, there are a few reasons. It’sbased on the German series, with the first reports of the CBS adaptation going back to 2019.But following the murder of George Floyd and the nationwide protests against police brutality in the U.S., there was, for a brief time, reluctance about moving forward with shows that lionized law enforcement.Brooklyn Nine-Nine, a sitcom centered around police officers, was among the shows that tried to grapple with the fact that the heroism displayed on-screen doesn’t line up with the lived experience of many.
Every Movie & TV Show Change Caused By The Black Lives Matter Movement
The Black Lives Matter movement is leading to changes in the entertainment industry. Here’s every movie and TV show that’s been impacted so far.
In any case, the initial pitch was retooled.Einstein’s second attempt focused on the secret, illegitimate great-granddaughter of Albert Einstein. The tweaked premise teased that the granddaughter would begrudgingly team up with a Boston homicide detective. She would solve cases, but also look at the problems of policing itself as an institution. At the time, this was described as a “2020 perspective” on policing, which proved to be accurate.
The gender-swapped version ofEinsteinnever moved forward. Police procedurals, which are ever-increasing in the current television landscape, are somewhat more sensitive to law enforcement biases and overreach. But as the national conversation and media focus around abolishing the police has subsided, the same has happened with attempts at a more unflattering portrayal of law enforcement and its various institutions.
It’s worth watching to see whether this newEinsteinpilotwill still keep its previous goals of a more combative and grim portrayal of the police.
This gets to a larger question about the purpose of entertainment and what it should seek to reflect, a discussion that diverges depending on the participants involved. Still, it’s worth watching to see whether this newEinsteinpilotwill still keep its previous goals of a more combative and grim portrayal of the police. If nothing else, it would help the Gubler-led series stand out, as cop and crime shows are all over broadcast networks.
Our Take On Gubler Joining Einstein
There is definitely an uptick in procedural dramas in which a very smart person ends up assisting or working in law enforcement in one way or another. CBS alone hasElsbeth,Einstein, and the upcoming Sherlock-connectedWatsonseries. ABC hasWill TrentandHigh Potential,while Fox hasMurder in a Small Townand The CW has the upcomingGood Cop/Bad Cop,led byGossip Girlstar Leighton Meester. The larger NBC umbrella hasMonk, which could return for another movie.
Industry experts say this reflects the bursting of the prestige TV bubble, meaning more of a focus from TV executives on approving tried-and-true formulas. But given the early hit rate of shows likeElsbethandHigh Potential, it’s not a bad bet to have a well-made and familiar premise led by a likable and talented actor. That seems to be whatEinsteinis, with Gubler at the forefront.
Source:Deadline
Einstein
A brilliant yet unruly physics professor - also the great-grandson of Albert Einstein - finds his academic career derailed by legal troubles. To avoid prison, he’s compelled to assist a disciplined New Jersey State Police detective in solving complex crimes, blending his genius intellect with unconventional methods.
