After a successful first season run on CBS, Watson will return with its second installment in January 2026. Production is rumored to get started sometime in June, and although the season 2 cast hasn't been confirmed yet, series star and executive producer Morris Chestnut is already making it known that he has his sights set on bringing this Emmy-nominated actress into the fold.
You might recognize this actress from her previous role as Ling Woo in the legal comedy drama series Ally McBeal, or perhaps you've watched her in some of the Charlie's Angels movies or Kill Bill films. It's none other than Lucy Liu! In a recent interview with Deadline, Chestnut shared his hopes of bringing the beloved actress into the world of his CBS series. While there haven’t been any official talks yet, Chestnut made it clear he’s determined to make it happen.
"I’m trying to track her down and get her to come on our show because, yes, that would be great if we could get her."
Liu is no way new to the world of Sherlock Holmes adaptations, having famously portrayed Dr. Joan Watson for seven seasons on Elementary. Her character was a gender-swapped version of the classic Dr. John Watson, reimagined as a former surgeon and sober companion who becomes Sherlock Holmes’s trusted partner and consulting detective.
Fans would no doubt be thrilled to see her return to the Holmes universe if Chestnut could make it happen. However, it'll be interesting to see who she'll play, given that Watson already has its own distinct take on the Watson character, portrayed by Chestnut.
Honestly, Liu could portray any character in the series and I'm sure fans will be happy. Just having her appear in some capacity would be a powerful nod to her iconic role in Elementary and an exciting moment for fans. In fact, it doesn't look like Liu is currently busy with any other projects at the moment, so there’s a real possibility that Chestnut’s efforts to bring her on board could come to fruition.
After being on Elementary for so long, the character of Dr. Joan Watson probably holds a special place in Liu's heart. Just maybe she’ll be down and excited to revisit the Holmes universe in a new and unexpected way in Watson. One can only hope!
Craig Sweeny created Watson. It revolves around Dr. John Watson, who, six months after the death of his friend and crime-solving partner Sherlock Holmes, opens a clinic in Pittsburgh dedicated to diagnosing and treating rare and mysterious medical conditions. However, he soon discovers that his past isn’t as behind him as he thought when an old nemesis resurfaces. Besides Chestnut, the Watson cast includes Eve Harlow, Peter Mark Kendall, Inga Schlingmann, Ritchie Coster, Rochelle Aytes, and many others.
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