James Van Der Beek to take the lead in CSI spin-off

Actor James Van Der Beek has been tapped to join the upcoming Csi spin-off series, Csi: Cyber.

The former Dawson's Creek star is returning to the small screen in a lead role opposite Patricia Arquette.

Inspired by the work of a real-life cyberpsychologist, the series centers on Special Agent Avery Ryan, played by Arquette, who heads the Cyber Crime Division of the FBI, while Van Der Beek plays Elijah Mundo, an expert in battlefield forensics.

It marks a return to the drama genre for Van Der Beek, who was most recently featured on two comedies, Friends with Better Lives and Don't Trust the B**** in Apartment 23, which were both canceled after one season.

Former Ally McBeal star Peter MacNicol and Community actor Charley Koontz also feature in CSI: Cyber.