The procedural series Criminal Minds: Evolution resurrected the original show after a short time off the air, and is now set to return for a third season. Criminal Minds which ran from 2005 to 2020, Evolution follows the well-known team from the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit as they try to crack the case of the Gold Star killer. Unlike the original series, which was purely procedural and featured an episodic format, Evolution moved to a serialized narrative involving a long ongoing storyline that has spanned between its two seasons thus far.
Welcomed back by fans with open arms, Criminal Minds: Evolution was a surprise hit and was quickly greenlit for a second season on Paramount+. In EvolutionIn season two, the team continues to hunt for the elusive Gold Star, while being forced to get help from another notorious criminal who has been irritating them for years. The serialized nature of the most recent seasons has been a refreshing change of pace and helps define Criminal Minds: Evolution in addition to the multitude of other procedurals in TV history. All of this sets the stage for an explosive 3rd season, and Paramount+ has already renewed it.
Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3 Latest News
Matthew Gray Gubler “filmed a new episode”
It's unclear whether Gubler meant he returned to play Reid or whether he simply directed an episode of Evolution season 3.
With the show firmly in the production phase of its next season, the latest news confirms that Matthew Gray Gubler has returned to the Criminal Minds. Best known for playing the intelligent Dr. Spencer Reid in all 15 seasons of the original series, Gubler was noticeably absent from the revival's first two seasons. Now, Gubler revealed that he has “filmed a new episode of Criminal Minds.“ It's unclear whether Gubler meant he returned to play Reid or whether he simply directed an episode of Evolution season 3.
Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3 is confirmed
Paramount+ quickly renewed the series
With filming later resuming in 2024, this signals that Paramount+ wants the show on an annual schedule.
With the news breaking a day before the second season began airing, Paramount+ renewed Criminal Minds: Evolution for a third season. The decision is nothing surprising, and the recognizable procedural has continued to be popular despite the passage of time and the original show's cancellation in 2020. No details about the new season are known yet, but will go into production at the end of 2024.
The decision to return to producing the program is prudent, and Evolution was one of many shows that were postponed due to the 2023 Hollywood strikes. Happily, The success of the franchise practically guarantees that the second season will be a successeven if fans had to wait longer for new episodes. With filming resuming in the fall of 2024, this signals that Paramount+ wants the show on an annual schedule.
Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3 Cast
Which BAU team members will return?
Like the end of Criminal Minds: Evolution Season two proved that the new serialized version of the procedural isn't afraid to put main characters in danger. With that in mind, The Season 3 Cast Is Anything But Certainand Elias Voit (Zach Gilford) was left hanging by a thread after his prison attack. However, It is certain that the BAU team will be present to reprise their roles including Joe Mantegna as the rugged leader, David Rossi. Additionally, veterans like Paget Brewster and Kirsten Vangsness are also expected to return as Prentiss and Garcia, respectively.
The Season 3 cast has already started to grow with the addition of Aimee Garcia (Lucifer) as Dr. Julia Ochoa in a multi-episode arc. The character is a brilliant neuropsychiatrist who is expected to come into conflict with Alvez because of his unorthodox methods. Matthew Gray Gubler (Dr. Spencer Reid) revealed that he filmed a new episode of Criminal Mindsbut it's unclear whether that means a return to the screen or the director's chair.
The potential cast Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3 includes:
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Actor |
Role of criminal minds |
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|---|---|---|
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Joe Mantegna |
David Rossi |
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Paget Brewster |
Emily Prentiss |
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Kirsten Vangsness |
Penelope Garcia |
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AJ Cook |
Jennifer “JJ” Jareau |
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Aisha Tyler |
Dr. |
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Ryan-James Hatanaka |
Tyler Green |
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Adam Rodríguez |
Lucas Álvarez |
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Zach Gilford |
Elias Voit |
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Aimee Garcia |
Dr. |
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Will Reid and Morgan return in season three?
The stars of the original series were not in seasons 1 and 2
Perhaps the most discussed aspect Criminal Minds: Evolution has been the absence of original series actors Matthew Gray Gubler as Dr. Spencer Reid and Shemar Moore as Derek Morgan. Gubler starred in all 15 seasons of the original series, while Moore departed in season 11. Both have been sorely missed in the rebooted series thus far, but their returns have potentially left it open. Gubler's Reid is still an FBI employee in the show's universe and is simply away on another mission.
Morgan's return is a little less open, and when he left the series, his character also left the FBI fully. However, with other Moore series SCAM potentially ending soon, he could return in some form. Likewise, Gubler mentioned in December 2024 that he had filmed a new episode of Criminal Mindsbut it is not clear whether he refers to himself as an actor or as a director. With all that said, Neither Gubler nor Moore's on-screen return has been confirmedand it would probably be big news if one or both of them decided to reprise their roles.
Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3 Story Details
Did Voit survive the attack?
2nd season of Evolution ended the Gold Star storyline but it left a lot of hurdles for the third season to resolve. First, Elias Voit's identity was disclosed, which led to a dangerous prison attack. Voit's fate remains up in the air, although actor Zach Gilford is confirmed to return in season three. Even though Gold Star has been resolved, there is clearly a larger conspiracy afoot that could take the team on another mind-bending journey in Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3 and beyond.