Morris Chestnut. Sergei Bachlakov/CBS
Morris Chestnut‘s upcoming CBS series Watson sets itself apart from other medical shows by adding an unexpected twist.
The network released the official trailer on Wednesday, November 27, which introduced Chestnut as the newest version of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle‘s iconic fictional character: John Watson. (The first look will air during the Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions NFL Thanksgiving game on Thursday, November 28.)
“The story of our lives, who we are [and] where we came from is written inside of us before we are ever born. But everything has its breaking point,” Chestnut’s character says in the voiceover. “Everyone’s faces and bodies are clues. Pay attention and it will tell you exactly where you need to go.”
While Watson will remain in the medical field, his methods push boundaries.
“Everyone who comes into this clinic is a mystery. Solve a mystery, save a life,” Watson tells the employees at his medical clinic. You four are the smartest doctors I could find but our patients don’t need doctors. Our patients need detectives.”
Based on Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories, Watson takes place six months after James Moriarty kills the legendary detective. Watson must come to terms with the loss of his best friend and partner by resuming his medical career as the head of a clinic dedicated to treating rare disorders.
“Watson’s old life isn’t done with him, though — Moriarty and Watson are set to write their own chapter of a story that has fascinated audiences for more than a century,” read the synopsis. “Watson is a medical show with a strong investigative spine, featuring a modern version of one of history’s greatest detectives as he turns his attention from solving crimes to solving medical mysteries.”
In addition to Chestnut as Watson, Eve Harlow plays a highly skilled neurologist named Ingrid, who has a questionable past while Peter Mark Kendall plays twin brothers — Stephens and Adam — who are infectious disease and functional medicine specialists at the clinic. There is also Inga Schlingmann in the role of Sasha, a specialist in rheumatology and immunology. Ritchie Coster rounds out the cast as Shinwell a.k.a a former criminal acquaintance of Holmes and Watson while Rochelle Aytes plays Watson’s ex-wife, Mary.
According to the sneak peek, this version of Watson isn’t afraid to think out of the box. He also isn’t afraid to break the rules — regardless of the repercussions.
“[We look for] something that shouldn’t be there. We eliminate the impossible and whatever remains — however improbable — must be the truth,” Watson explains in the trailer before another clip shows him being called “reckless” but “a genius.”
Watson is the second CBS series to adapt the Holmes stories. Elementary, which aired from 2012 to 2019, starred Lucy Liu as Dr. Joan Watson. Liu’s iteration was a former surgeon and was hired by Sherlock’s (Jonny Lee Miller) father to help him in his rehabilitation as a recovering drug addict and former consultant to Scotland Yard.
Watson premieres on CBS after the AFC Championship Game on Sunday, January 26, at 10 p.m. ET. It will begin airing in its regular time slot on Sunday, February 16, and new episodes stream the next day on Paramount+.
