Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 18: The procedural drama Criminal Minds: Evolution has just wrapped up airing its second season, and fans are already clamoring for the next season. Well, there’s no denying that the series is one of the most famous crime dramas. However, the audience doesn’t have to wait that long. That’s because Paramount+ has a jolting surprise for them.
Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 18 is ready to enchant its audience’s world with more gritty criminal cases and chase games. Are you ready to witness a thrilling drama? Then, keep reading to learn more about the third season.
Following the success of Criminal Minds, which ran on CBS from 2005 until 2020, Paramount+ returned with a familiar FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit team to crack the case of the Gold Star killer. The show is undoubtedly the most epic one. That’s because instead of focusing on episodic format, this series has returned with a serialized narrative focusing on an ongoing storyline. So far, the team has faced a lot, but they have now captured the mastermind behind this murder mystery. Can they return to continue the series? Let’s find out!
Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 18 Is Renewed
The procedural series fans can now breathe a sigh of relief as their favorite crime drama series, Criminal Minds: Evolution, is back to rock their world. That’s right! Paramount+ is looking forward to returning with Joe Mantegna and his team to delve deeper into the crime world. In other words, the network has renewed the series for the third season, Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 18. The renewal announcement came out a day before the second season’s release on June 6, 2024.
Shortly after this announcement, Emily Prentiss actress Paget Brewster took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to confirm the series is returning with another installment. Paget wrote, “WHEELS UP!!!” referencing the series’ iconic catchphrase. Joe Mantegna also shared his excitement about returning for the third season. He wrote on X that he was thrilled to announce that the team would be entering into another season of Criminal Minds: Evolution.
When Will Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 18 Undergo Filming?
It looks like Criminal Minds: Evolution is back to their business. Just three weeks after the second season wrapped up airing, Kirsten Vangsness shared the jaw-dropping update. She revealed on a post on Instagram that Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 18 was in production. The post featured the cast and crew members, suggesting everyone has returned. However, filming didn’t start back then. Instead, the team returned for their first table read of the third season.
Kirsten wrote, “First table read of the season [Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 18]—the love is deep here.” She also shared photos of Adam Rodriguez and A.J. Cook exchanging a hug. There’s no denying that the show has received immense love from the series’ fans. That’s why the fans didn’t remain calm when they saw the cast reunion. Many flooded the comment section with love. A user wrote, “YAYAYAYAYAY I’M SO EXCITED.” Another said, “FIRST TABLE READ ALREADY?”
Since the series has already done a table read, it suggests that the creative team behind the show has already mapped Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 18. So, it doesn’t seem like the series will take longer to start filming. Typically, production takes several months to conclude. It remains unclear when the show will enter filming. However, since they had already had their table read, the scripting was concluded. So, the camera might start rolling sometime in the fall.
Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 18 Cast Details
The second season’s ending suggests that the entire BAU team will return to reprise their roles. That means Joe Mantegna will return as the stalwart leader, David Rossi. His other team members include Paget Brewster as Emily Prentiss, Kirsten Vangsness as Penelope Garcia, and AJ Cook as Jennifer ‘JJ’ Jareau. Aisha Tyler as Dr. Tara Lewis, Ryan-James Hatanaka as Tyler Green, and Adam Rodriguez as Luke Alvarez will also return. It remains unclear whether Zach Gilford will return as Elias Voit.
However, Zach Gilford is eager to return for Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 18. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Zach said he would love to return if the team wanted him to. He added he loved the character and there was a lot he could do. But story-wise, he had no idea how things would move or whether they needed Elias in the series.
More than that, Zach shared that the Criminal Minds: Evolution set was the best set he’d ever seen. Zach added that everyone in the series, from the executive producers to the cast and crew, was so happy to be a part of it. It was just a great place to be a part of, and he also shared that he felt good about himself and what he was doing.
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Will Shemar Moore And Matthew Gray Gubler Return?
Matthew Gray Gubler’s Dr. Spencer Reid didn’t appear in any of the episodes of this series, leading many to believe that Matthew wouldn’t return as Reid. But Prentiss did share where Reid is in the second season’s episode “Piranha.” In that episode, Jill Gideon (Felicity Huffman) asked about Reid’s whereabouts, and Prentiss simply said he was on sabbatical. This suggests that Matthew is still a part of the team. But it remains unclear when he will return.
The series showrunner Erica Messer has shared that the door is open for him, and he can return anytime. She said that at this point, only an emotional draw could bring back someone, not any casework. As for Matthew, he’s ready to return. He told Good Housekeeping that he is ready to return to play Reid. He even voiced his return on The Six O’Clock Show. Matthew shared that it would be an honor to return, and he would absolutely love to return to Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 18.
Shemar Moore shared the same sentiments as he spoke to TV Insider in February 2024. Moore said he only wants an invitation to return as SSA Derek Morgan. He never forgot where he came from, whether it was The Young and the Restless or Criminal Minds. While he voices his return, Moore shared that all he needs is the creative team to write his character so that he can visit them. As of now, it remains unclear whether they will return. But one thing is sure: the actors are ready to reprise their roles.
Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 18: What To Expect Next?
The second season completed the Gold Star storyline. However, the finale left several loose ends to be explored in the third season. Most importantly, Elias Voit’s identity was revealed in the end, suggesting things would be dangerous for him. Since he was attacked in prison, it was unclear whether he would survive the attack or if it was just the end of his chapter. While the audience was waiting for a proper answer, the showrunner Erica Messer teased that Elias Voit would return.
Messer shared that his storyline hadn’t been completed. There is more that he can do, but it feels like it isn’t the end of this season. So Elias will return, which will create more trouble down the road. During an interview with Collider, Messer shared that the story will continue from where it was left off. It will indeed focus on Elias’ storyline, bringing back the Gold Star. The three characters, Jade, Pete Bailey, and Mila’s storyline, might have seemed to have concluded.
But it isn’t. Messer shared that they aren’t done, and some of Gold Stars will return in Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 18. They aren’t done with the season break yet. So, it seems like the third season will explore Elias’ story arc and whether he survives the attack. Meanwhile, the third season will bring another criminal case to the picture. However, it remains unclear what storyline will be played off in the next season.
Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 18 Release Date
The show hasn’t yet started filming. Although it has entered production, the series has yet to start filming. This means the third season won’t return this year. Filming will take six to seven months to wrap up before undergoing the post-production phase. Considering this, it doesn’t seem like the show will return this early. Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 18 might air sometime in the spring of 2025. It’s a tentative date. But we will update you. This is all for now. Stay with TechRadar247 for more such updates.
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