"Criminal Minds" Is Officially Coming Back — Here's Everything We Know About The Reboot So Far

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If you're anything like me, then you probably have a very special place inside your heart for the series Criminal Minds.

You probably also shattered to pieces when the series ended back in 2020 — I mean, after 15 seasons and 363 episodes, how could you NOT be upset?!

Penelope thanking the crew
CBS

Well, I'm here to share good news, because your beloved BAU team is officially coming back!!! There's currently a Criminal Minds reboot in the works at Paramount+, and it's, like, really happening, guys!

So, here's everything we know about the reboot so far:

1.The series just began filming on Aug. 8, according to Paget Brewster.

2. It's reportedly 10 episodes long, and according to Deadline, the cast has also signed multi-year contracts, which means the show might go on even longer if it's a success at Paramount+.

3.Joe Mantegna (David Rossi), Paget Brewster (Emily Prentiss), A.J. Cook (Jennifer Jareau), Adam Rodriguez (Luke Alvez), Aisha Tyler (Tara Lewis), and Kirsten Vangsness (Penelope Garcia) are among the confirmed cast and will be reprising their respective roles.

  Michael Yarish / CBS / Courtesy Everett Collection
Michael Yarish / CBS / Courtesy Everett Collection

4.Unfortunately, Matthew Gray Gubler and Daniel Henney, who played Spencer Reid and Matt Simmons respectively, are not confirmed to return at this time.

Matthew on the left and Daniel on the right
Monty Brinton / CBS / Courtesy Everett Collection

In an interview with Looper, Paget talked a little bit about why they weren't returning and said, "Matthew was the only person in the last two seasons that had been in every single episode. He did 15 years straight through. From 25 to 40, the guy was on one show, and that's when we shot 22, 24 episodes a year. He was never able to go do other stuff, so I understand. He wants to direct. He graduated from NYU to direct, and his first audition was Criminal Minds. Imagine you never expected to be an actor and then suddenly it's 15 years of your life. I understand why."

Matthew looking at a board filled with pictures during a scene of Criminal Minds

She continued, "I'm hoping he changes his mind, but I understand why he wants to do other things. I was gone from Criminal Minds for four years. I got to do a ton of other things that enriched my life and my resume, and my education, so I understand how he feels."

CBS / Courtesy Everett Collection

As for Daniel's return, she explained, "Daniel Henney is on Wheel of Time [which] shoots in Prague. They're picked up for a few more years. Daniel won't be able to rejoin us, but life is weird, and things happen. We don't know what's going to happen."

Daniel holding a gun and wearing an FBI bullet-proof vest in a scene from the film
CBS / Everett

5.Erica Messer, who served as Criminal Minds' head screenwriter for 11 years, will return for the reboot as showrunner, executive producer, and writer.

Joe Mantegna, Paget, Daniel, Erica, Matthew, and A.J. Cook posing for a group photo

Breen Frazier and Chris Barbour, who both worked on the original series, will also return to write for the reboot.

Cbs Photo Archive / CBS via Getty Images

6.This series will also be canon and will act as a continuation of the original Criminal Minds.

Kirsten Vangsness holding up and pointing to a Criminal Minds script

Almost like a Season 16, if you will.

Cbs Photo Archive / CBS via Getty Images

Picking up shortly after the pandemic, the BAU will face one of their biggest threats yet, an unsub who's used the pandemic to create a giant network of serial killers. As the world begins to open back up, the BAU will start hunting these killers one by one.

  Cbs / ©CBS/Courtesy Everett Collection
Cbs / ©CBS/Courtesy Everett Collection

7.And Paramount+ is also debuting a companion series called The Real Criminal Minds, which is a docuseries that'll feature a real former FBI profiler examining real cases and criminal behavior, illustrated with clips from the fictional Criminal Minds.

Man sits on a bed as he holds two people with heir mouths duct taped hostage
CBS / Courtesy Everett Collection

That's all the info we've got for now! But in the meantime, you can rewatch all 15 seasons of Criminal Minds, which is currently streaming on Paramount+.