Kerry Washington presents Shemar Moore with the award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for 'Criminal Minds', onstage during the 46th NAACP Image Awards presented by TV One. (Photo : Getty Images/Frederick M. Brown)
While "Criminal Minds" has been on air for more than 10 years, it is not strange to changes and new characters. Fans will bid farewell to Aaron Hotchner (Thomas Gibson) and welcome Luke Alvez (Adam Rodriguez) during Season 12 premiere.
Alvez will be the head of the Fugitive Task Force, permanently joining the BAU team as they hunt down five serial killers still on the loose. In the previous season, 13 serial killers escaped from jail. The BAU team has caught eight of them, meaning that the team should rally up the force because five are still on the run, including Mr. Scratch.
Showrunner Erica Messer had an interview with TVLine, wherein he talked about Rodriguez's character. She also dished on the departure of Shemar Moore, who has played Derek Morgan since the inception of the series.
"The fun thing about that character is, not that he's a new [Derek], but what is Garcia going to think of the new guy?" Messer asked. "There's something real in the workplace environment where a friend leaves and you're like, 'I'll never love anyone the way I loved that friend,' so she has to warm up to him."
With regard to Gibson, his physical confrontation with a writer on set made him to be dismissed from the series, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He will only appear in the second episode of Season 12. However, two familiar faces will be coming back to the show for good, so there is no need to worry about a shortage in cast members.
Aisha Tyler, who plays Dr. Tara Lewis, and Paget Brewster, who plays Emily Prentiss, will both reprise their roles in Season 12. The two have signed as series regulars. However, Sherilyn Fenn from "Twin Peaks" will guest star as a character related to an UnSub in Season 12 episode 3.
"Criminal Minds" Season 12 is slated to debut on Sept. 28 at 9/8c on CBS. Here is footage for more information on the upcoming season:
