The cast attends the 100th episode celebration for the television show 'Criminal Minds' on October 19, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo : Getty Images/ Frederick M. Brown)
It looks like "Criminal Minds" Season 12 will be composed of new faces as casting shakeups continue following Thomas Gibson's firing this month. CBS is on the hunt of two new series regulars, one who will replace the BAU team chief Aaron Hotchner, and another one who is likely to substitute another original cast member Shemar Moore who bid goodbye on the series last spring.
All the details about the characters have been sealed at the moment, according to TVLine who first reported the casting news. Apart from the two new series regulars, CBS has earlier reported the addition of "CSI: Miami" star Adam Rodriguez, Aisha Tyler and Paget Brewster in "Criminal Minds" Season 12.
The casting shakeups is not new to the CBS procedural which in fact had welcomed and said goodbye to a series of actors and actresses over 11 years. Some of the cast who earlier played a part in "Criminal Minds," include Lola Glaudini, Mandy Patinkin, A.J. Cook, Rachel Nichols, Paget Brewster, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Shemar Moore.
Gibson, the latest to exit the show was one of the key players among the cast. Earlier this month, he was suspended after he kicked a writer-producer over creative differences. However, the issue escalated, leading to his demise from the series ahead of "Criminal Minds" Season 12.
"Thomas Gibson has been dismissed from Criminal Minds," E! News quoted ABC Studios and CBS Studios' statement. "Creative details for how the character's exit will be addressed in the show will be announced at a later date."
Since the studios have announced his dismissal, Gibson has expressed his wish to weigh whether or not he would continue a case against the show's producers. Gibson's directing and acting work for "Criminal Minds" Season 12 have all been cancelled.
It was not the first time for Gibson to face a row with his co-stars. In the previous years, he shoved one of the show's directors that led him to attend an anger management class.
"Criminal Minds" Season 12 returns on Sept. 28. Both the ABC Studios and the CBS have not commented on the recent casting news for the upcoming season. Check out the show's opening credits for the new season:
