Latest news with #CriminalMinds:Evolution
Daily Record
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Where is the Criminal Minds cast now? Five years on since the series ended
Criminal Minds was cancelled in 2020, but returned for a spin-off series Criminal Minds: Evolution two years later. As the series is now free to stream on Channel 5, here's everything you need to know about the beloved cast. Criminal Minds first aired in September 2005, and now nearly 20 years on the show still remains a fan favourite. The show was originally cancelled in 2020, but fans were so outraged by the decision to take it off air that it returned two years later for a spin-off show - Criminal Minds: Evolution. Created by Jeff Davis, Criminal Minds follows a team of criminal profilers who work for the FBI's Behavioural Analysis Unit (BAU) to investigate crimes, as they anticipate the next moves of the criminals across the United States and stop them before they strike again. Each episode of the show focuses on a new case with the cast trying to bust the criminal, and explores the personal lives of various characters. There are some major cast and character changes over the years, but the much-loved OG cast members have stayed the same. With the likes of Kirsten Vangsness, Matthew Gray Gubler, A.J Cook, Joe Mantegna, Thomas Gibson, Shemar Moore and Paget Brewster. Here is everything you need to know about where the cast of Criminal Minds are now? Matthew Gray Gubler Matthew played Dr Spencer Reid and stared in season one to season 15, and he quickly became a fan favourite. Dr Reid was a genius who graduated high school at the age of 12 and had two bachelors degrees and three PHDs, as well as being a respected member of the BAU. In addition to his role in the show, he went on to appear in multiple movies - RV, (500) Days of Summer, Life after Beth and Zoe. Matthew also voiced the beloved character Simon in all four Alvin and the Chipmunks movies. A.J Cook A.J was just 27 when the show premiered in 2005 and remained as a main character until season six where she left the team to take on a job at the Pentagon, although she was actually cut from the show due to cost cutting reasons by CBS. Although she returned the following season after fans complained that they were missing her on screen as special agent Jennifer Jareau a.k.a. "JJ". Since appearing on Criminal Minds, A.J has went on to star in episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and 9-1-1 and as well as appearing on films such as Least Among Saints and Mother's Day. She has two children with her husband Nathan Andersen, alongside her two sons who play her children in the show, she returned for the spin-off show Criminal Minds: Evolution. Kirsten Vangsness Kirsten played the eccentric tech analyst and communications liaison Penelope Garcia, and appeared on the show throughout all 15 seasons. She was highly loved by fans for her hilarious comedic timing along with her flirtation with Derek Morgan, who was played by Shemar Moor. She is currently staring in the Paramount+ revival of Criminal Minds: Evolution, as well as appearing in The Chicago 8 and Kill Me, Deadly series. Thomas Gibson Thomas played the troubled Aaron "Hotch" Hotchner on the show from season 1 to 12, but was eventually fired from the show due to an physical altercation on set. Back in 2010, the now 62-year-old was accused of shoving the assistant director on set but was permitted to remain on the show after completing anger management classes. However, in 2016, during the show's twelfth season, he was dismissed after kicking a co-executive producer in the shin during a heated confrontation. Joe Mantegna Joe joined the cast during season 3 of the show, and quickly became a fan favourite with his character David Rossi becoming a father like figure among the group of FBI agents. The Tony Award winning actor took to X (formally known as Twitter) after filming his final scene for the show in 2019, writing: "I will miss playing David Rossi, and I'll miss the wonderful writing that brought him to life, but mostly I will miss seeing my fellow cast mates and our fantastic crew every day. It may seem a cliché to say we're like family, but it's so very true." He went on to star in As We See It and he continues to voice the character Fat Tony in The Simpsons, a role which he has had since 1991. Joe has also returned for the spin-off series along with his other cast member - AJ and Kirsten . Paget Brewster Paget's character Emily Prentiss had multiple exit's and reappearance's throughout her time on Criminal Minds. Although she finally returned in season 12 and stayed as a regular through to the final season of the show. Paget is a well known voice actress outside of her role in Criminal Minds, voicing characters in American Dad!, Adventure Time, Family Guy, DuckTales and Birdgirl. She also rejoined the serious for the spinoff show. Shemar Moore Shemar's character Derek Morgan was known as a heartthrob in the show, he appeared in season 1 through to 11 as a set character and continued appearing as a guest throughout seasons 12 and 13. He went on to voice the DC Comics character Cyborg in the Justice League animated movies, as well as staring in S.W.A.T and returning to The Young and the Restless - the soap that launched his career and earned him an Emmy Award back in 2000.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Filming on Criminal Minds Season 19 Has Begun: Who Is Definitely Back?
'The BAU is back on the case,' the Criminal Minds Instagram announced on Friday afternoon, along with a BTS photo signaling that filming on Season 19 has begun. The news comes almost midway through Season 18, which is dropping new episodes every Thursday on Paramount+. (Season 19 was greenlit back on March 5, more than two months ahead of the current season's premiere.) More from TVLine Criminal Minds: The Surprising Story Behind That Shocking Will Scene Criminal Minds: A.J. Cook Opens Up About JJ's Loss, Her Real-Life Sons Playing 'Big Emotions,' and Negotiating That Brief Cameo All Stars 10 Is the Best Drag Race Season in Years - and It's About to Get Even Better (Exclusive Sneak Peek) 'The BAU is back on the case!' the crime drama's IG trumpets. 'A new season of Criminal Minds: Evolution has officially started filming.' To look at the clapboard photo above, Joe Mantegna, Aisha Tyler, Kirsten Vangsness, Adam Rodriguez, A.J. Cook, Paget Brewster and Ryan-James Hatanaka will be back as series regulars for next season — meaning, David, Tara, Penelope, JJ, Emily and Tyler all are safe to buy some green bananas. Might the slippery Sicarius aka Elias Voit (played by Zach Gilford) make it out of this season alive, to taunt the BAU for a fourth straight time? That remains TBD. Season 18 of Criminal Minds: Evolution kicked off on May 8 and picked up six months after prisoners attacked the notorious Sicarius, leading the serial killer's restless followers on the dark web to begin wreaking havoc all over the country. In order to stop this group from killing more innocents, the BAU has been forced to work alongside an increasingly unpredictable — and seemingly amnesic? — Voit, who surely is harboring his own sinister agenda. Other Season 18 cast includes Lucifer alum Aimee Garcia as Dr. Julia Ochoa, a leading neuropsychiatrist assigned to help Voit recover from his injury-induced brain trauma, while franchise vet Matthew Gray Gubler recently made his first Evolution appearance as Dr. Spencer Reid. What are your wishes, hopes and dreams for Season 19? Share 'em in comments! Want scoop on , or for any other TV show? Shoot an email to InsideLine@ and your question may be answered via Matt's Inside Line! Best of TVLine 'Missing' Shows, Found! Get the Latest on Ahsoka, Monarch, P-Valley, Sugar, Anansi Boys and 25+ Others Yellowjackets Mysteries: An Up-to-Date List of the Series' Biggest Questions (and Answers?) The Emmys' Most Memorable Moments: Laughter, Tears, Historical Wins, 'The Big One' and More
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Criminal Minds'' A.J. Cook on Will's death and that brief but 'impactful' Matthew Gray Gubler reunion: 'It was a fine line'
JJ (A.J. Cook) and the rest of the BAU gather for Will's funeral in the latest episode of Criminal Minds: Evolution. The episode also features the return of fan-favorite Spencer Reid, played by Matthew Gray Gubler. Cook speaks to EW about her longtime TV husband's big death, the reunion between JJ and Reid, that slap from the late Linda Lavin, and hard to say goodbye. In the newest episode of Criminal Minds: Evolution, a grieving JJ (A.J. Cook) grapples with the funeral of her longtime husband Will (Josh Stewart), a staple since season 2 of the original CBS drama. The detective and father of her two boys (played by Cook's sons Mekhai and Phoenix) suffered an aneurysm after a thyroid artery rupture following a health scare. Will's kitchen collapse, it turns out, was filmed several seasons ago, long before Stewart's decision to exit the show. 'We pulled it because it felt so wrong,' Cook tells Entertainment Weekly of the scene. 'We didn't want to put Will in that position.' But in the wake of Stewart's surprise departure, showrunner Erica Messer salvaged the scene for Thursday's emotional sendoff. 'We remembered, 'Oh my gosh, we have this footage that we never used because we did not want to use it.'' Though Stewart's exit took the crew by surprise, there's nothing but love there. 'I truly have such admiration and respect for Josh,' Cook says. 'We've known each other forever. We've done movies together. He and my husband are friends. He is so missed. But again, the show has to go on. We just had to do it.' Also in the episode: Matthew Gray Gubler's grand — albeit brief — return as Spencer Reid. Cook talks about calling up her old pal to ask him to return, the 'fine line' of reuniting JJ and Reid, getting slapped by the late Linda Lavin, and more. ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What was your initial reaction when you found out about Will's fate? A.J. COOK: It took all of us by surprise when we found out that he wasn't going to be coming back. It took a while for us to process that and to figure out what was next. I think if we were still on CBS with our original format, we wouldn't have taken this route because we've gone seasons without seeing him. It was more procedural back then. But with this new format, a huge part of the show is the personal lives of these characters that we love so much. After much deliberation, we do what we always do on this show: we write to life. You don't get to choose when someone dies. Life happens and it blindsides you. And I think that's why this hurts so badly. We were all so against it, but we didn't have a say. So how do we move forward without feeling like we are in a prison of how we can write for JJ? We wanted this family safe and protected so badly that when we originally wrote in that cancer storyline, we hated it so much ... believe me, if we had Josh coming back, we wouldn't have shot such a short little thing like that. We would've milked it. Not only does the late and great Linda Lavin appear as Will's grieving mother, but she slaps you squarely across the face. What was it like sparring with her? And were those slaps real? What an honor to be slapped by Linda Lavin. I had to swear at that woman, OK? Twice! She is so full of life and giving as an actress. And case in point — one second you're doing a scene with a person, the next you find out that they've passed away. You'd do anything to go back in time to make it not so. But she was such a force. It's one of the great honors of my life that I got to act with her before she passed. There was such an ease between the two of us. We were on the same wavelength as far as how we approach scenes. She did not slap me. We just made it look real good. Matthew Gray Gubler makes his long-awaited return. What was the atmosphere like on set that day? It felt like a homecoming. It was really wonderful. I was so happy that he came back to do this with us. When we were in the conception of this episode, Erica and I kept going back to the idea of Spence having to be there. It would feel like a huge piece of the puzzle is missing if he couldn't be there. I called him up and I was like, 'Hey, bud, what are you doing? Do you want to come do this?' And being the gracious human that he is, he agreed. When I told him what was happening [with] Will, he was like, "Are you kidding me? I will absolutely be there." It was a short appearance, but so impactful. It meant the world to me and to our cast and I know it meant a lot to him, too. I did want to touch on that. I already know some folks will be unhappy with the minimal screen time between JJ and Reid. What are your thoughts on people still riding that ship so many years later? You've spoken about feeling weird about that because they're besties. That's what I was going to say. And having him come back at her husband's funeral where these characters have said that they love each other? It was a fine line. We did not want to give off that vibe at all. We wanted it to be like, this is your best friend showing up for you in your time of need. So that's why it was a sensitive thing. It was like, do we hug? Do we not hug? What are the people going to think? It's so polarized when it comes to [the JJ and Reid shippers]. Everyone is allowed to have a fantasy and think what they want. We were very careful about that. And Erica did let the public know that yes, he's coming back, but I think her quote was, "He's a small part in a really big episode," which is true. But you can't please everybody. We do our best. A lot of folks don't realize that your sons play your TV sons. This was a very heavy episode. What kind of conversations did you have prior to filming? Was it difficult to shoot? This was a huge part of the decision making in all of this, too. My boys are highly intelligent, very emotionally stable, well-grounded humans who grew up on this set. They know it's acting. But I can see how those lines would look blurry to the outsider looking in. What people don't see is that when they call 'cut,' Matthew Gray Gubler is flipping my youngest son around his head. It was so joyful. It was such a juxtaposition. We were all celebrating being together and having fun. Also, as a mother, I'm not opposed to children feeling big emotions. They should. You can't protect your child from big emotions and the what-ifs of life. I think that's a disservice to them in a way. My kids, they get it. We had some of the most beautiful memories I'll have in my lifetime [during] that two week stretch of shooting that episode. There was so much joy involved in making this episode even though it came across as so sad. But they know Josh really well, and my husband is friends with Josh. But yeah, it was absolutely something that I had to think about and talked to the kids about. And they were like, 'Mom, are you serious? We're good.'What will the rest of JJ's arc look like this season as she navigates this grief? It's going to be messy. Grief is not pretty. There's so many layers to grief and we're going to touch on a lot of them. And I will say that she will find healing and comfort in the most unexpected places with the most unexpected people. How's that for a carrot dangling? Or a Cheeto dangling. A Cheeto, yeah. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. New episodes of Criminal Minds: Evolution drop Thursdays on Paramount+. Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
Newsweek
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Is Will Dead, and Is Reid Back? 'Criminal Minds: Evolution' Has Big Twists
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors 'Criminal Minds: Evolution' continues the story of the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) as they begrudgingly work with serial killer Elias Voit (Zach Gilford) in order to capture his followers. More Entertainment: Zach Gilford on 'Complex' 'Criminal Minds: Evolution' Villain Elias Voit The series stars Paget Brewster (Emily Prentiss), Joe Mantegna (David Rossi), A.J. Cook (Jennifer "JJ" Jareau), Kirsten Vangsness (Penelope Garcia), Aisha Tyler (Tara Lewis), and Adam Rodriguez (Luke Alvez). Now, fans are ecstatic that a fan-favorite character is making their return. However, it appears to be coming at the cost of someone who has been around since the beginning. Criminal Minds: Evolution Criminal Minds: Evolution Where to Watch 'Criminal Minds: Evolution' 'Criminal Minds: Evolution' streams exclusively on Paramount+. The new season premiered on May 8, and new episodes are available every Thursday. More Entertainment: 'Criminal Minds: Evolution' Season 18 Debuts May 8: Full List of Episodes What Happened to Will in 'Criminal Minds: Evolution' Fans were completely caught off guard in Episode 2 when Will LaMontagne Jr. surprisingly died from an aneurysm in front of JJ, his wife. While this created a dramatic story beat, there was actually a behind-the-scenes reason for this death. While no reason has been given since the death, actor Josh Stewart confirmed in January 2024 that he wasn't returning for the season. No sadly, my days of playing Will LaMontagne Jr. are over. You guys have been the absolute best. 🙏 — Josh Stewart (@J0SHSTEWART) January 17, 2024 Showrunner Erica Messer later confirmed this in an interview with TVLine, noting that they love Will, but it was time to move on. Cast members have since spoken out in their love for the character and Stewart. "[It] was a really difficult episode to shoot, because we were saying goodbye to Will, and we were saying goodbye to Josh Stewart, who's played Will for what, maybe 17 years?" Paget Brewster said to The Independent. Is Spencer Reid Returning to 'Criminal Minds: Evolution'? While it's said to see Will go, a fan-favorite character is returning in his absence. Matthew Gray Gubler officially made his return as Spencer Reid in Season 18, Episode 3 during Will's funeral. However, this doesn't mean that Gubler is necessarily returning to 'Criminal Minds' full-time. First look at 'EINSTEIN', starring Matthew Gray Gubler The series follows the great grandson of Albert Einstein whose bad-boy antics end up with him having to help a local police detective solve cases of the week. — DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) May 8, 2025 The talented actor is set to star in the upcoming CBS series 'Einstein,' a comedic procedural where Gubler plays a descendant of Albert Einstein who winds up helping police solve crime. Will 'Criminal Minds: Evolution' Feature a JJ and Reid Romance? Naturally, Reid's reappearance has fans wondering if the romance between he and JJ will spark up once again, especially since the 'Evolution' has been ignoring While making a move at Will's funeral would have obviously been in bad taste, it cannot be denied that there is now an opening for the relationship to turn more intimate. That being said, this will all depend on a few things: whether the writers actually want to put a focus on that relationship and whether Gubler will be sticking around much longer. Unfortunately, fans will have to wait and see. More Entertainment: How 'Criminal Minds: Evolution' Teases Spencer Reid and Matt Simmons Return Alix Earle Joins Dancing with the Stars: Everything Else to Know About S34 For more television and entertainment news, head on over to Newsweek Entertainment.
Newsweek
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
'Criminal Minds: Evolution' Season 18 Debuts May 8: Full List of Episodes
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Criminal Minds: Evolution may be the third season of the streaming revival, but it is officially Season 18 of the long-running franchise that began in 2005 on CBS. The series is a direct continuation of the original Criminal Minds, carrying over its core characters, overarching storylines and the structure of the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU). Rather than reinvent the formula, Evolution deepens it, shifting to serialized storytelling and darker psychological terrain while preserving the ensemble that defined the show's early success. Now streaming on Paramount+, Season 18 picks up six months after a prison attack on serial killer Elias Voit (Zach Gilford), whose digital cult of killers continues to operate in his wake. The BAU—including familiar agents Rossi, Prentiss, JJ, Garcia and Alvez—must work alongside the very criminal they once hunted. And in a long-awaited return, Matthew Gray Gubler's Dr. Spencer Reid is set to reappear, marking another connective thread between the CBS original and this evolving revival. Why It Matters Unlike reboots or spinoffs, Criminal Minds: Evolution continues directly from the CBS series, maintaining its original characters and building on past storylines. The move to Paramount+ allows for darker themes and serialized arcs, giving longtime fans a more intense, layered version of the show while still honoring its procedural roots. In this Getty stock photo, two officers arrive at a crime scene late at night. "Criminal Minds: Evolution" premieres on Thursday. In this Getty stock photo, two officers arrive at a crime scene late at night. "Criminal Minds: Evolution" premieres on Thursday. gorodenkoff/Getty Images What to Know About 'Criminal Minds: Evolution' The 10-episode season premieres May 8 and will release weekly every Thursday through July 10. Episode titles for the first two are confirmed: "Swimmer's Calculus" (May 8) and "The Zookeeper" (May 15). The remaining episode titles are pending release dates through early July. The returning ensemble includes Joe Mantegna as David Rossi; Paget Brewster as Emily Prentiss; A.J. Cook as JJ Jareau; Adam Rodriguez as Luke Alvez; Kirsten Vangsness as Penelope Garcia; Aisha Tyler as Dr. Tara Lewis; and Ryan-James Hatanaka as Tyler Green. Gilford continues as Voit. Gubler's one-episode return as Reid—long hinted at—is now confirmed, according to multiple outlets. How to Stream 'Criminal Minds: Evolution' Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 18 is available exclusively on Paramount+. New episodes are released each Thursday at 3 a.m. ET, according to Decider. The series is included with Paramount+'s Essential ($7.99/month) and Paramount+ with Showtime ($12.99/month) subscription plans. A one-week free trial is available for new users. All 15 original seasons of Criminal Minds are also streaming on the platform, according to Decider. 'Criminal Minds: Evolution' Episode Schedule Here is the official release schedule for Season 18 of Criminal Minds: Evolution: Episode 1 – "Swimmer's Calculus" – May 8 – May 8 Episode 2 – "The Zookeeper" – May 15 – May 15 Episode 3 – Title TBD – May 22 – May 22 Episode 4 – Title TBD – May 29 – May 29 Episode 5 – Title TBD – June 5 – June 5 Episode 6 – Title TBD – June 12 – June 12 Episode 7 – Title TBD – June 19 – June 19 Episode 8 – Title TBD – June 26 – June 26 Episode 9 – Title TBD – July 3 – July 3 Episode 10 – Title TBD (Finale) – July 10 Each episode will drop weekly on Thursdays through the season finale. What People Are Saying A Reddit user named u/Loose-Masterpiece-50 posted in April about the difference between the two iterations: "Expect your favourite characters in a vastly different setting. It is not the same format as the original and as someone who loves the original series, I think the change is probably better for them to keep the show around. Making it too similar I fear would've led to a cancellation. I enjoy it, but for different reasons than I like the original run." A Reddit user named u/Affectionate-Day6849 posted in April: "I advise you to open your mind to watch Evolution and remember that it's not like the original Criminal Minds. Then see if you like it or not. I personally like Evolution. I have criticisms like I do with the original series, but I'm happy to be excited for a new season of Criminal Minds in 2025." What's Next With its hybrid procedural-serialized format, Season 18 continues to develop story arcs across multiple characters. Showrunner Erica Messer hinted that both JJ and Dr. Lewis will have expanded narratives in the current season, and the door remains open for other past characters like Josh Stewart's Will LaMontagne and Felicity Huffman's Dr. Jill Gideon to return, according to TV Insider. Paramount+ has already renewed Criminal Minds: Evolution for Season 19, indicating continued momentum for the streaming-exclusive revival. The next new episode will debut on May 15.
