Jonny Lee Miller for Elementary

Jonny Lee Miller is reportedly being lined up for the lead role in CBS pilot Elementary.

The pilot is a modern day version of Sherlock Holmes with Miller being lined up to play the famous sleuth. The CBS version will be set in New York with Holmes investigating modern day cases, reports the Hollywood Reporter. Elementary is being written by Robert Doherty with Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly on board as executive producer. Miller’s other previous television credits include Dexter and Eli Stone.

If the basic premise of Elementary sounds familiar; i.e a modern day adaptation of Sherlock Holmes that’s because it is. BBC One drama Sherlock, by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, has a similar premise but with it being based in London and stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. So far two seasons of Sherlock have aired on BBC One with a third already commissioned.

Sherlock producer Sue Virtue has previously spoken about CBS’s Elementary telling the Independent ‘We understand that CBS are doing their own version of an updated Sherlock Holmes. It’s interesting, as they approached us a while back about remaking our show.  At the time, they made great assurances about their integrity, so we have to assume that their modernised Sherlock Holmes doesn’t resemble ours in any way, as that would be extremely worrying. We are very proud of our show and like any proud parent, will protect the interest and wellbeing of our offspring.’