Matthew Gray Gubler's long-awaited return to Dr. Spencer Reid gained new traction recently when the actor said during an interview with Italian magazine ANSA that he'd shot an episode of the Paramount+ revival Criminal Minds: Evolution. This was mentioned only briefly by Gubler, who was mainly discussing his work as an author and illustrator. But it set off a firestorm with fans of the long-running franchise, considering that Gubler is among the few core cast not to return for the revival series.
TVLine now confirms that Gubler will reprise the role of Dr. Spencer Reid for one episode of Criminal Minds season 18. Specific plot details regarding how Reid will be brought back have not been shared, but it was noted that schedules aligned and paved the way for Gubler to make an appearance.
What Gubler's One Episode Appearance Means For Criminal Minds
A Long-Standing Fan Request Is Met
Criminal Minds season 18 or, as the revival is known, Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3 has been well underway in of casting and filming. The Paramount+ series previously mentioned that Reid was on assignment with Special Agent Matt Simmons (Daniel Henney) and that it would be up to Dr. Reid whether he would want to return to the BAU. This explanation has run in tandem with Evolution showrunner Erica Messer consistently mentioning that she would like Gubler to appear, though it hasn't worked out due to scheduling conflicts.
Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3 does not currently have a release date announced.
One reason that schedules could have aligned, after two seasons of the revival, is that Gubler has been cast as the lead in the CBS pilot Einstein and will be playing the role of Albert Einstein's great-grandson. CBS Studios produces the Einstein pilot and is a co-producer on Criminal Minds: Evolution, which could have helped filming itineraries line up.
Spencer Reid's Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Sabbatical Was Secretly Set-Up In The Original Show
Matthew Gray Gubler's continued absence as Spencer Reid in Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2 was actually set up in the original CBS series.
Regardless of how circumstances changed, which is sure to be explained in interviews with Gubler and the rest of the Criminal Minds cast, the news means that Reid will have the chance to reminisce with his friends in the BAU after his character was last seen in the final episode of the original Criminal Minds. That extended absence has only increased the desire to catch up with the popular TV star and the fan-favorite BAU member he portrayed for over a decade.
Our Take On Gubler's One Episode Return
It's A Start
Depending on how things go with Einstein and whether the pilot is picked up to series, Gubler could recur more often in future seasons of Criminal Minds. But even if it's just the one episode for the foreseeable future, at least audiences will presumably get to learn a bit of what Reid has been up to for the past few years. That depends, too, on the plot details for Reid's episode, which will be closely watched.
Source: TVLine
Criminal Minds: Evolution
- Release Date
- November 24, 2022
- Showrunner
- Erica Messer
- Writers
- Erica Messer
- Franchise(s)
- Criminal Minds
Cast
Joe Mantegna
A.J. Cook
In Criminal Minds: Evolution, the FBI’s elite team of criminal profilers come up against their greatest threat yet, an UnSub who has used the pandemic to build a network of other serial killers. As the world opens back up and the network goes operational, the team must hunt them down, one murder at a time. Original cast continuing their roles include Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Aisha Tyler, Adam Rodriguez and Paget Brewster. Zach Gilford s the dynamic cast as a recurring guest star in a season-long arc.
- Main Genre
- Crime
- Creator(s)
- Erica Messer
- Seasons
- 2
- Prequel
- Criminal Minds
- Streaming Service(s)
- Paramount Plus
- Where To Watch
- Paramount Plus
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