'Criminal Minds' Fans, Joe Mantegna's Character Will Find This Reboot Change “Inappropriate”

With the release of the Criminal Minds reboot quickly approaching, longtime fans are eagerly waiting to get back into the room with their favorite BAU agents. But alongside the show's move from CBS to Paramount+, it sounds like certain characters may not be thrilled about a change happening.

During a Television Critics Association panel this past September, Criminal Minds: Evolution's showrunner Erica Messer revealed the switch to the popular streaming service gave the writers more creative freedom with dialogue. Unlike its predecessor, she said the agents will now be allowed to use swear words that will especially ruffle the feathers of Joe Mantegna's beloved character, FBI BAU Supervisory Special Agent David Rossi.

"It has definitely broadened our scope," she said, according to Decider. Erica added that though she thinks the language is "very appropriate," some characters might find it "inappropriate." Among those is Rossi who "especially" won't be appreciative of the unfiltered thoughts.

"The dialogue feels more authentic," Erica reportedly said.

So what led Criminal Minds' creative team to consider adding swear words to the scripts? Folks may remember the original procedural drama being successful for over a decade without uttering one.

According to Screen Rant, since the show is now going from a primetime network to a streaming site, it gives the writers a new opportunity to test out new formats ... like adding in a few swear words.

Though there was no further explanation why Rossi would be upset about curses, it seems like it could also be used for comedic relief. But this isn't the only twist Criminal Minds: Evolution has in store for its dedicated watchers. While viewers are familiar with how the show tackled a new case week-to-week, its successor will operate a bit differently.

Picking up after the events of the COVID-19 pandemic, fans will see longer arcs thanks to the new addition of Friday Night Lights star Zach Gilford. The actor will play Elias Voit, an UnSub who developed his own network of serial killers amid quarantine.

Speaking of other characters, how does Criminal Minds: Evolution plan on explaining the absence of Dr. Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) and Matt Simmons (Daniel Henney)? Erica mentioned in the same panel that viewers will get a sense of where they are.

"It’s a little bit of a mystery what Reid and Simmons are up to," she said to TVLine. “Dr. Reid’s and I believe Matt Simmons’ desks are still there, still have stuff on it ... Like, if any of you went back [to the office after the pandemic], you still have stuff on your desk that was there for two years. So we’re definitely playing that. But [Spencer and Matt] are not gone gone.”

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