‘Reasonable Doubt’s’ Morris Chestnut on Playing Titular Role in ‘Watson’: ‘It’s a Culmination of My Career’

As an admirer of the arts and a connoisseur of the small screen, I must say that Morris Chestnut‘s journey through Hollywood is nothing short of extraordinary. His career spans over three decades, from his breakout role in “Boyz n the Hood” to his recent foray into the world of Sherlock Holmes with “Watson.

This year’s Mipcom in Cannes kicked off with the debut of Paramount Global’s “Watson.” The show, airing on CBS Television Network starting January 26th, features Morris Chestnut playing the renowned Dr. John Watson in a unique take on Sherlock Holmes, focusing on Watson’s medical profession.

As a dedicated movie enthusiast, I’d describe “Watson” like this: “I find myself delving into the life of Watson, who, following the demise of Holmes, returns to his medical roots as the chief of a unique clinic focusing on uncommon ailments. This series combines the intrigue of a gripping medical drama with the essence of a seasoned detective, reinventing one of history’s most celebrated sleuths, as he shifts his focus from crime-solving to unraveling medical enigmas.

The series “Watson” is created by CBS Studios and distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution. Craig Sweeny, who previously worked as a writer and executive producer on CBS’s “Elementary,” has returned to the Sherlock world and is now serving as showrunner and executive producer, with Chestnut also holding an executive producer position. Other executive producers include Sallie Patrick, Larry Teng, Shäron Moalem, Aaron Kaplan from Kapital Entertainment, and Brian Morewitz. Larry Teng has directed the first two episodes of the series.

Acting alongside Chestnut are Eve Harlow (from “The Night Agent”), Rochelle Aytes (known for “Mistresses”), Peter Mark Kendall (“Kaleidoscope”), Ritchie Coster (“Tulsa King”), and Inga Schlingmann (“So Help Me Todd”).

Chestnut expressed a mix of apprehension due to the significant nature of the task, yet immense enthusiasm for the chance, as it involves an iconic mythology. He shared this before the MIPCOM premiere with EbMaster. Chestnut felt reassured upon meeting Craig, knowing that he deeply values the mythology. Craig is crafting compelling storylines and their approach has been reverential.

In 1991, Chestnut gained recognition in John Singleton’s “Boyz in the Hood”, and later starred in movies like “G.I. Jane”, “The Game Plan”, “The Call”, and the “Best Man” series. On television, he appeared in shows such as “Rosewood” and “Goliath”, winning four NAACP Image Awards for his performances, including one for portraying another doctor, Dr. Ike Prentiss, on Showtime’s “Nurse Jackie”.

As I prepared myself for the challenge of portraying the doctor in our upcoming adaptation, I delved into Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s original books and also watched various screen interpretations of the character. However, it was the unique aspect that the narrative wasn’t solely centered around Holmes that caught my attention – something I hadn’t encountered before in previous adaptations, making “Watson” all the more intriguing to me as an actor.

He doesn’t violate the regulations, but he’s daring and the outcome could be unpredictable,” he noted about Watson. “In the second episode, he’s already facing a call from Human Resources. Yet, what I admire most about this character is that his actions are always motivated by the patients, with their well-being as his priority.

For Chestnut, it wasn’t the weight of the role’s historical significance that posed the greatest challenge, but rather the demanding medical scenes in the series. Despite his experience portraying doctors in shows like “The Resident” and “Nurse Jackie,” he underlined the high-intensity nature of these roles.

As a movie enthusiast, diving into a role that requires an intricate understanding of medical and scientific details can be quite challenging. With my schedule on a network TV show, there simply isn’t enough time to thoroughly grasp every detail. Instead, I find myself spitting out medical terms as if they were commonplace phrases – that’s the intimidating part about this character.

Regarding my acting career, I gather various experiences and store them like tools in a box. This current role represents a significant milestone for me. Previously, I worked on a show for Fox called ‘Rosewood,’ which was my first experience playing the main character and dealing with the unique challenges that come with it. Now, having gone through that, I feel more equipped as an actor. What truly invigorates me is continuously improving and growing in my craft.

For dedicated Sherlock Holmes enthusiasts, Chestnut hints that the series offers a “refreshed perspective” on Watson’s character while maintaining some iconic aspects from the original detective tale. He describes the setting as Pittsburgh rather than foggy London, but it can be gloomy and rainy at times. The trench coats remain, though they now feature a splash of color.

The actor is eager to unveil “Watson” during its world premiere in Cannes, expressing his excitement about the series. He has faith in everything written by Craig and the acting talent on the show who have delivered exceptional performances. Although he feels a bit anxious about how the audience will react, he trusts the team consisting of Craig, Larry, CBS, and Paramount. They have his full confidence, as they are skilled professionals who know their craft well. He’s proud to be a part of such an accomplished group.

Starting from February 16th at 10:00 PM Eastern and Pacific Time, “Watson” will be broadcast regularly each week on Sundays.

2024-10-20 20:17

‘Reasonable Doubt’s’ Morris Chestnut on Playing Titular Role in ‘Watson’: ‘It’s a Culmination of My Career’

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