Criminal Minds: Evolution showrunner Erica Messer has opened up about the possibility of Dr. Spencer Reid coming back in season 2 of the revival, offering a definitive response on the subject. Reid was a key character on the crime drama since season 1, having appeared as a main character in every season of the show’s original run. However, he has thus far been absent in the revival on a special assignment, with no hints as to if he’ll come back during Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2.

Speaking with TV Insider, Messer revealed that Reid will not be coming back in Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2, with the 2023 Hollywood strikes making it difficult to bring him back. However, the showrunner says that, because of mutual interest in seeing Matthew Gray Gubler reprise his role, it’s a very likely possibility in later seasons. Check out what Messer had to say below:

It never worked out for Season 16 and then Season 17, maybe it could have worked out, and then the strikes happened and then it hasn’t worked out for Season 17. But we love him. He loves us. It’s not any of that. It’s just we’ve got to find a time to make it work…

But I’m keeping that desk there and I’m keeping that nameplate there. It’s always staying there as far as I’m concerned. So that’s why you saw it. You’ll see it throughout the show. It’s like, there’s his desk.

Once we know we could have them, then we can play with whatever. But it’s like, until we know, it’s hard to say. So yeah, those guys are still not in this season. Daniel [Henney]’s on another series [The Wheel of Time], and Matthew [Gray Gubler]’s been doing projects that have kept him away,” Messer adds. “But yeah, it’s like, this home is always there for them. We’d love to make it happen.”

More to come…

Source: TV Insider