His late-night throne may be destined for a museum, but Stephen Colbert is not finished with television, or with CBS, just yet. In a move brimming with poetic irony, the outgoing host of “The Late Show” will soon grace the screen in a role that hits incredibly close to home, yet promises a world of dramatic new possibilities.

In the ever-churning world of television, where endings often feel abrupt and ruthless, a strange and wonderful new beginning is taking shape for one of its most iconic figures. Stephen Colbert, the man who has guided viewers through the tumultuous last decade from behind the historic Ed Sullivan Theater desk, is stepping out from behind the monologue and into the world of scripted drama. The news that Colbert will guest star in the upcoming third season of the hit CBS crime dramedy, “Elsbeth,” has sent a ripple of excitement and intrigue through the industry, not just for the sheer star power of the booking, but for the delicious, meta-textual layers of it all. In a twist that feels like it was written in the stars—or perhaps in a very clever writers’ room—Colbert will be playing a late-night talk show host.

This casting is not merely a winking nod to Colbert’s day job; it’s a profound and fascinating development that lands in the middle of a major narrative shift for the comedian and the late-night landscape as a whole. The news comes hot on the heels of the seismic announcement that “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” will be concluding its run next year. In a move that shocked the industry, CBS declared it would not simply be replacing the host, but retiring the entire, venerable “Late Show” franchise, a television institution that began with David Letterman in 1993. The network cited it as a “purely financial decision,” but for viewers and industry peers, it felt like the end of an era.

Against this backdrop of cancellation and conclusion, Colbert’s “Elsbeth” role feels like a defiant, creative, and deeply personal next act. He will be playing Scotty Bristol, the host of the fictional talk show, “Way Late with Scotty Bristol.” The details of his character’s involvement in the week’s central mystery are being kept under wraps, but on a show like “Elsbeth,” which follows a “howcatchem” format à la “Columbo,” big-name guest stars are almost always the killer. The tantalizing possibility of seeing Colbert trade his satirical political commentary for a murderous monologue is a prospect that has fans buzzing with anticipation. Will he be the victim? The villain? Or simply a witness swept up in the delightful chaos of the show’s titular character, Elsbeth Tascioni?

The origin story of this casting decision is almost as charming as the show itself. The seeds were planted on an episode of “The Late Show” back in February when “Elsbeth” star Wendell Pierce was a guest. During the interview, Colbert expressed a long-held desire to appear on one of CBS’s many procedural dramas. “I want to be the body that’s found behind the pile of lettuce boxes or something like that,” he joked. Without missing a beat, Pierce, in his characteristic smooth style, leaned in and promised to make it happen. “I can make that happen,” he quipped. “I know a guy who knows a guy. We can get you on.” What seemed like a moment of playful on-air banter has blossomed into a reality, a testament to the genuine connections forged in the shared universe of CBS programming.

For Colbert, this is not a debut in the world of acting, but rather a return to his roots. Before he became the face of late-night, he was a celebrated actor and comedian, a key player in the influential sketch series “Strangers with Candy,” and of course, the mastermind behind the iconic conservative pundit character he portrayed for a decade on “The Colbert Report.” That show was a masterclass in long-form character work, proving his ability to build a complex, nuanced, and hilariously flawed persona. His dramatic and comedic chops are well-established, with memorable guest appearances on shows like “The Office,” “The Mindy Project,” and “Girls5eva.” This role on “Elsbeth” offers him a chance to flex those muscles once again, to remind audiences that there is a versatile and accomplished actor behind the late-night host.

His appearance is also a significant coup for “Elsbeth.” A spinoff of the critically acclaimed series “The Good Wife” and “The Good Fight,” the show has already established itself as a critical and commercial success, thanks in large part to Carrie Preston’s Emmy-winning portrayal of the quirky, brilliant, and perpetually underestimated attorney Elsbeth Tascioni. The show’s formula, which pairs Elsbeth’s unique observational skills with a star-studded cast of weekly guest villains, has attracted an impressive roster of talent, including Nathan Lane, Keegan-Michael Key, and Laurie Metcalf. Adding Stephen Colbert to that esteemed list further cements the show’s status as a premier destination for top-tier actors looking to play against type.

The timing, coming as “The Late Show” prepares for its final bow, adds a layer of poignant symbolism to the entire affair. It feels like a passing of the torch, a transition from one chapter of a storied career to the next. As the lights dim on one stage, they are already powering up on another. While the end of “The Late Show” is a loss for the world of late-night comedy, this new venture is a gift to fans of scripted television. It’s a chance to see a beloved and multi-talented performer in a new light, to be surprised and delighted by his range, and to witness the next evolution of Stephen Colbert. Whether his character, Scotty Bristol, ends up being a victim, a villain, or something in between, one thing is certain: his appearance on “Elsbeth” will be appointment television, a fascinating collision of reality and fiction that celebrates the enduring, and ever-surprising, talent of a true television icon.