Einstein (American TV series)
A genius professor aids police in solving homicides.
**Einstein** is an upcoming police procedural comedy drama for CBS, scheduled to debut during the 2026–2027 television season. It adapts a 2017 German series and a 2015 film of the same name, both created by Martin Ritzenhoff and Matthias Dinter. Randy Zisk and Andy Breckman serve as executive producers. Matthew Gray Gubler stars as Lewis Einstein, the great-grandson of Albert Einstein, who teams up with a homicide detective to crack difficult murder cases.
**Premise** Lewis Einstein is a tenured professor at Princeton University and the great-grandson of the famous scientist. Despite his brilliance, he has a pattern of reckless behavior that eventually lands him in serious legal trouble. To avoid jail, he strikes a deal with law enforcement to assist a local police detective named Teri, applying his intelligence to solve complex homicides.
**Cast** **Main** - Matthew Gray Gubler as Lewis Einstein, a tenured Princeton professor who, after his reckless actions cause legal problems, agrees to help the police solve difficult homicide cases using his genius. - Melissa Fumero as Teresa "Teri" London, a highly disciplined detective inspector for the New Jersey State Police who holds herself and her colleagues to high standards and is conflicted about working with the professor.
**Recurring** - No recurring cast members have been confirmed as of the latest updates.
**Production** **Development** In 2018, Tariq Jahil led an effort to adapt the German series for American audiences. The pilot, written by Michael Reisz and produced by Carol Mendelsohn, was developed for NBC but did not go forward. In 2019, the project moved to CBS, with Andy Breckman writing and Randy Zisk directing. In 2020, a gender-swapped version was put into development at CBS, with Lauren Gussis as writer. In June 2024, the project was redeveloped as a direct U.S. adaptation, with Breckman and Zisk returning as writer and director. CBS ordered a pilot in August 2024. The series was greenlit in April 2025, originally slated for the 2025–26 season but later delayed to 2026–27.
**Casting** In October 2024, Matthew Gray Gubler was announced as the title actor and a producer.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Police procedural / Comedy drama
- Based On
- Einstein · Martin Ritzenhoff · Matthias Dinter
- Developer
- Andy Breckman
- Starring
- Matthew Gray Gubler / Melissa Fumero / Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Executive Producer
- Andy Breckman / Randy Zisk / Michael Rauch / Tariq Jalil / Rose Hughes / Rodrigo Herrera Ibarguengoytia / Laura Beetz
- Producer
- Matthew Gray Gubler
- Company
- Intrigue Entertainment / Seven One Studios International / CBS Studios
- Network
- CBS
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The series centers on Lewis Einstein, a tenured Princeton professor and great-grandson of Albert Einstein, who struggles with reckless behavior. After his antics land him in legal trouble, he avoids jail by agreeing to assist local police detective Teri London in solving complex homicide cases. The show's development began in 2018 with a pilot for NBC, then moved to CBS in 2019, with a gender-swapped version considered in 2020. In June 2024, a direct U.S. adaptation was re-developed, and the pilot was ordered in August 2024. The series was greenlit in April 2025 but delayed from the 2025-26 season to the 2026-27 season.
Reader's Guide
Einstein represents a cross-cultural adaptation of a German property for American television, following a trend of international format translations. Its significance lies in its blend of comedy and procedural elements, featuring a protagonist whose genius is tempered by personal flaws. The casting of Matthew Gray Gubler, known for Criminal Minds, and the reunion of Tony Shalhoub with Monk collaborators Breckman and Zisk, adds nostalgic appeal. The series also highlights the challenges of development, including casting changes and delays. Its legacy will depend on audience reception, but it marks a notable entry in CBS's lineup of crime dramas with comedic twists.
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