William Petersen has joined the cast of the upcoming film Detachment. According to The Hollywood Reporter, this will be the former CSI: Crime Scene Investigation star's first post-TV gig with a new theatrical project.

The site also reports that Mad Men star Christina Hendricks and Lucy Liu have joined the ensemble cast, which includes Adrien Brody, Bryan Cranston, James Caan and Marcia Gay Harden.

Tony Kaye is directing the film from a script by Carl Lund. The story centers on a normally-detached substitute teacher (Brody) who starts to grow closer to his students and fellow teachers, as well as develop a relationship with a homeless teen prostitute.

Petersen will play a history teacher who gets into hot water when he shows a gay film in class, in an effort to promote tolerance. Hendricks will play a fellow teacher and potential love interest who tries to get Brody to start teaching full-time. Liu will play the school's psychologist who becomes irritated with her students' incompetence.

The film is currently shooting in New York City.