All the Original Stars Returning For the "Criminal Minds" Reboot and What Else We Know
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When it comes to procedural crime TV dramas, not many series stand the test of time over many years without losing their touch. The beloved CBS show "Criminal Minds" is among the ones that did just that, continuing its upward trajectory over the span of more than a decade. Now, two years after concluding its triumphant 15-season run (a whopping 324 episodes) on the network in 2020, the police drama has officially received a revival order from the streamer Paramount+. The show previously spawned two spinoffs — "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior" and "Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders" — both of which didn't see the same success as the original and were canceled after their first and second seasons, respectively.
"Criminal Minds" follows several members of the Behavioral Analysis Unit of the FBI, a group of accomplished criminal profilers who use their behavioral-analysis expertise to unearth twisted perpetrators in the making. The buzz surrounding the reboot is sky-high, as six original cast members are returning for it. Read on for all the details about the "Criminal Minds" reboot we know so far, including its potential release date, plot, and casting updates.
1 "Criminal Minds" Reboot Plot
According to Nicole Clemens, the president of Paramount+ Original Scripted Series, the latest iteration of "Criminal Minds" will be "full of new twists," delivering "new stories for a new generation of viewers."
The fresh batch of episodes will reportedly build a thrilling criminal chase against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. The official logline gives a glimpse of the upcoming revival's plot. "The FBI's elite team of criminal profilers come up against their greatest threat yet, an UnSub who has used the pandemic to build a network of other serial killers. Now, as the world opens back up, the network goes operational, and our team must hunt them down, one murder at a time," the streamer shared.
2 "Criminal Minds" Reboot Release Date
Joe Mantegna, who plays David Rossi in "Criminal Minds," recently teased the upcoming reboot while scoping out the soundstage in a July 13 tweet. The project will soon move into its production phase, with filming set to begin next month in Los Angeles on Aug. 21, per Deadline. Fans can probably expect the series to hit Paramount+ in late 2022 or early 2023 at the latest.
3 "Criminal Minds" Reboot Cast
The show will see many of the original cast reprise their iconic roles, but some big names will be missing.
Which Original "Criminal Minds" Cast Members Will Be in the Reboot?
The cast members reprising their long-time characters include Joe Mantegna as David Rossi, Paget Brewster as Emily Prentiss, Adam Rodriguez as Luke Alvez, A.J. Cook as Jennifer "JJ" Jareau, Kristen Vangsness as Penelope Garcia, and Aisha Tyler as Tara Lewis.
Why Isn't Matthew Gray Gubler in the "Criminal Minds" Reboot?
Matthew Gray Gubler starred as the fan-favorite character Spencer Reid for the show's 15-season run. However, according to a Deadline report, Gubler, who last appeared in "Dollface," is not inclined to revive his widely adored character.
Brewster addressed Gubler's exit in an interview with Looper in July 27. "Matthew was the only person in the last two seasons that had been in every single episode. He did 15 years straight through. From 25 to 40, the guy was on one show, and that's when we shot 22, 24 episodes a year. He was never able to go do other stuff, so I understand," she said. "He wants to direct. He graduated from NYU to direct, and his first audition was 'Criminal Minds.'"
She continued: "Imagine you never expected to be an actor and then suddenly it's 15 years of your life. I understand why. I'm hoping he changes his mind, but I understand why he wants to do other things. I was gone from 'Criminal Minds' for four years. I got to do a ton of other things that enriched my life and my resume, and my education, so I understand how he feels."
Why Isn't Shemar Moore in the "Criminal Minds" Reboot?
Shemar Moore starred as the charming Derek Morgan from season one to season 11 of "Criminal Minds" before taking a step back to a reoccurring role from season 12 to season 14 to pursue other projects — one of those being CBS's other hit show "S.W.A.T.," which premiered in 2017 and is still going strong. His starring role on the show is probably what's preventing him from signing on for the "Criminal Minds" revival. But considering "S.W.A.T." is under the Paramount umbrella, it doesn't seem totally out of the question that Moore could appear in the reboot as a guest at some point.
Why Isn't Daniel Henney in the "Criminal Minds" Reboot?
Daniel Henney joined "Criminal Minds" as the character Matthew Simmons toward the end of the series' run in season 10, becoming a regular from season 13 until the series finale. Henney's absence from the revival is likely due to scheduling conflicts owing to his role in Amazon Prime's fantasy drama "The Wheel of Time."
Will Any New Cast Members Join the "Criminal Minds" Reboot?
Paramount+ hasn't announced any new cast members that have joined the revival yet. However, the original series' executive producer, writer, and showrunner Erica Messer is confirmed to be steering the highly anticipated reboot. The writers and executive producers Breen Frazier and Chris Barbour also make up the creative team behind the latest revival.
4 "Criminal Minds" Reboot Trailer
Paramount+ hasn't shared any teasers previewing the "Criminal Minds" revival because it hasn't started filming. Fans can probably expect an official trailer to come after filming gets underway and an official premiere date is set.
5 How Many Episodes Will Season 1 of the "Criminal Minds" Reboot Have?
The "Criminal Minds" reboot will start with 10 new episodes.