According to Deadline, CBS’ upcoming crime dramedy Einstein has been delayed to the 2026–27 TV season, and lead actress Rosa Salazar (Alita: Battle Angel, Brand New Cherry Flavor) has officially exited the project. Salazar approached CBS and CBS Studios to request an early release from her contract following the network’s decision to postpone the show’s debut by a full year.

Salazar’s departure was confirmed after her request to be released from the project was granted by mutual agreement. The delay frees her up to pursue other television roles rather than waiting out the extended production timeline.

“CBS’ decision to shift Einstein‘s air date has resulted in a pause in hiring for the writing staff,” says an article via Deadline.

Matthew Gray Gubler (Criminal Minds, (500) Days of Summer) remains attached to the project, playing the eccentric great-grandson of Albert Einstein who, after legal troubles, helps a police detective solve complex crimes. Salazar had been cast as the detective opposite Gubler, leaving a major role now vacant.

The exact reason for CBS’ scheduling change remains unclear. “Whether it was financial, logistical, or strategic, the network has not commented on what prompted the delay,” reports Deadline.

With Salazar’s departure, the series will undergo necessary recasting before production resumes. CBS reportedly plans to promote Einstein with a March Madness 2026 campaign, a strategy previously used with shows like Tracker and Sheriff Country.

A transitional shake-up in casting could also mean creative shifts for the show’s direction. Despite the pause, producers remain committed to moving forward with the project in the coming year.

Andy Breckman (Monk) and directed by Randy Zisk (Monk, Lois& Clark: The New Adventures of Superman), Einstein is a U.S. adaptation of a popular German series. Executive producers include Breckman, Zisk, Intrigue’s Tariq Jalil, and the team from Seven One Studios International. Gubler is also signed on as a producer.

“Einstein had originally been greenlit for the 2025–26 season,” says an article via Deadline.

With just two regulars originally cast in the pilot, Einstein follows a similar model to other CBS procedurals like Elsbeth, which operate with minimal lead roles.

As CBS revamps the series ahead of its rescheduled debut, casting for a new female lead is expected to begin soon. Salazar’s exit marks a significant, but not unusual, shift during a period of industry-wide scheduling and production adjustments.

Though Rosa Salazar’s departure creates uncertainty, CBS’ long-term vision for Einstein appears intact. As the show regroups and recasts, all eyes will be on who steps in to fill the now-vacant lead role opposite Gubler.