5 Criminal Minds Characters We Want Back in Evolution & Chances Of Their Return
Many of the beloved actors may return. But probably not in Season 2.
The news that the Criminal Minds revival show Evolution is coming back to Paramount+ with ten new episodes in just a few weeks, on June 6, has become a pleasant surprise for everyone. The cast and crew managed to produce the second season in record time. And it promises to be full of suspense, action and, of course, twisted serial murder cases.
An even better surprise would be the return of the original fan-favorite cast members who have been missing from the revival so far. While there has been no official confirmation of any splashy comebacks, there is still a chance that some of the beloved faces will pop up unannounced in Evolution Season 2.
Here are five original BAU agents that fans are dying to see in Evolution, ranked by the likelihood of their return.
Improbable: Jason Gideon
Played by: Mandy Patinkin
Agent Gideon was only part of two full seasons of Criminal Mind, but fans still remember and love him. He was wise, he was tricky, he was a great leader and mentor. However, Patinkin left the show due to creative differences. He reportedly had a hard time with all the violence and darkness the show was diving into.
Plot-wise, Gideon also left BAU. But then, in Season 10, he was found murdered by one of the BAU's older unsubs. So unless that death was faked, there's no way Gideon can return to the screen. Instead, Evolution has cast Felicity Huffman as his ex-wife and the BAU's new psychiatrist advisor.
Unlikely: Aaron Hotchner
Played by: Thomas Gibson
Hotch became head of the unit after Gideon and lasted much longer. After many traumatic arcs, he left the FBI in Season 12 to devote himself to his son. Behind the scenes, Thomas Gibson's departure was scandalous and messy. He was fired for a physical altercation on set. And that makes his return unlikely.
Last year, however, the actor reunited with the show's writer and producer Andrew Wilder, sparking a fan campaign for Hotchner's return. So all hope is not lost. After all, Hotch is still alive in the Criminal Minds universe.
Possibly: Derek Morgan
Played by: Shemar Moore
Like Hotch, Morgan left the unit to become a family man. In real life, Shemar Moore wanted to explore other career opportunities. And it worked out well for the actor. He soon landed the lead role on CBS's S.W.A.T., which ran for seven years and recently aired its finale.
Now that Moore is in between acting gigs, he could very well appear in an Evolution episode or two. After all, the star had a cameo in the original show and is ready to return to his roots at a moment's notice.
‘All I need is an invitation,’ Moore recently told TV Insider.
Likely: Matt Simmons
Played by: Daniel Henney
Simmons was part of the BAU when the original show aired its finale. So his return to the revival was a no-brainer. However, actor Daniel Henney was unable to be on set due to his commitment to Amazon's The Wheel of Time, which wrapped filming for Season 3 in March.
This makes Simmons' appearance in Evolution Season 2 impossible. However, there is little doubt that the actor will join the revival once the scheduling conflicts are resolved. His character is said to be on a secret mission somewhere, ready to return at any time.
Highly Likely: Spencer Reid
Played by: Matthew Gray Gubler
Of course, the main face that every Criminal Minds fan wants to see in Evolution is that of Dr. Spencer Reid. The genius profiler never missed a single episode of the original and was still part of the BAU when the finale aired. This made his absence from the revival very disappointing.
Like Simmons, Reid is said to be on a secret mission and free to return at any moment. Like Daniel Henney, Matthew Gray Gubler had a scheduling conflict that prevented him from being on the set of Evolution Season 1. There's been no official confirmation of Gubler's return, but there's a good chance that such a delightful surprise will happen, if not in Season 2, then later.
‘I would absolutely love that,’ the actor said while chatting with the hosts of The Six O'Clock Show. ‘Hopefully it will soon work out.’
Well, fingers crossed and wheels up, dear Criminal Minds fans.
Sources: TV Insider, The Six O'Clock Show.