Viewers were dismayed upon learning that Shemar Moore is not coming back anymore to play as Derek Morgan in "Criminal Minds" Season 12. His character was not killed in the series, and fans started to speculate that the fan-favorite could possibly return in any of the future seasons of the long-running CBS procedural.
When Morgan informed producer Erica Messer about his plan to leave and not return in "Criminal Minds" Season 12, she promised him that his character would not be killed during his final episode. She assured him that he will be getting a hero's goodbye.
"I'm not going to kill you, E! News quoted Messer as saying. "I'm going to give you all your Derek Morgan-isms, you're going to do that Morgan thing, and then we're going to embrace the team, and then you're going to walk off into the sunset."
Moore's played Morgan for 11 years and as he stepped out and not renew his contract for "Criminal Minds" Season 12, speculations about his possible return started hitting the headlines. His interviews even added fuel to the fire every time he says that he would accept a future offer if ever CBS asks him again.
In his interview, the actor admitted that the doors were closed for now, but he assured that for "Criminal Minds" but he is still willing to open it again. He would not opposed to the idea because he loves CBS, his fans and the "Criminal Minds" family.
Moore treated his acting career like school. He compared his work in "The Young and the Restless" to high school while "Criminal Minds" to college. Like school, he needed to graduate and evolve and pursue to grad school. "The Bounce Back" actor had been open to the series' producers and executives that he also wants to try other opportunities and see what else he is capable of as an actor.
With his plan not to pursue "Criminal Minds" Season 12, Moore admitted that he is searching for a balance in his personal life and career. Part of his goals is to fall in love, have his own family and travel.
Speaking of returning, Moore visited the cast and crew of "Criminal Minds" on the set and brought valuable gifts, TMZ reported. As a token of his love, he gave them 250 Swiss made Fortis watches with his initials and "always on time" embedded on the face.
The "always on time" inscription is reportedly his mark for always being late in the show. Each watch costs around $600 to $1500. "Criminal Minds" Season 12 returns to CBS on Sept. 28 at 9 p.m ET.
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