CSIVegas star Matt Lauria says he is excited for Marg Helgenberger's return as Catherine Willows in season 2, and even hints that the show might delve further into the classic character's background.
CSI: Vegas star Matt Lauria shares his thoughts on Marg Helgenberger’s return as Catherine Willows. Before his role as the Level III CSI lead investigator Josh Folsom in the CBS revival series, Lauria appeared in a few episodes as FBI agent Matthew in the original installment. Unlike other franchise alums, Helgenberger was absent from the first season but has since secured a 1-year contract to be a series regular on season 2.
Following the 15-season run of the original CSI franchise in 2015, CBS revived the procedural forensics crime drama for a sequel epilogue in 2021, consisting of 10 episodes. Season 1 of the reboot series included the notable return of the beloved couple Gil Grissom and Sara Sidle . Although it was billed as an epilogue limited series, the spinoff series received a renewal, without the return of Petersen or Fox for season 2.
"We're really lucky to have her back and personally, I'm overjoyed... I would've been deeply enthused, even if I didn't have any experience with Marg personally. But I'm all the more enthused because... my experience of her is she's just a complete class act, very generous, very genuine person. That role is so iconic and she's been such a massive presence on the show for so long -- 12 seasons.
Despite Lauria being unable to reveal much more than that, it appears that Catherine and Josh will share many scenes together in the forthcoming season, as there may be a silver lining to their exchange. Previously, the showrunner of the series, Jason Tracey, claimed that season 2 will feature and explore more ideas and stories from its previous season.
Due to her limited contract deal, it still remains unclear how long Helgenberger will linger in the revival series. However, it will be interesting to see how her character’s journey will continue in the upcoming season of CSI: Vegas, along with the relationship that will cultivate between Catherine and Josh. Whether or not Helgenberger is slated for more appearances in the future, fans and the cast members are excited for her highly-anticipated return to the franchise.