CBS announced Paget Brewster has been upped to a series regular on Criminal Minds season 12. Brewster had already been set to reprise her role as SSA Emily Prentiss as a guest star in multiple episodes this season, but with the firing of Thomas Gibson the network has decided to integrate Brewster’s character back into the series on a regular basis. Brewster played Emily Prentiss from 2006-2012 and has remained a part of the family, returning for the 200th episode and originally booked as a guest star this season.
The 12th season will premiere on September 28, 2016 and fans of the long-running procedural can expect to see Brewster back on the October 12th episode. “We’re all so excited to have Paget with us full time,” stated Erica Messer, Executive Producer/Showrunner. “The BAU family has definitely missed her, on screen and off. Having her back on set has been great, it’s like she never left.”
Gibson, who played Aaron Hotchner since season one, was recently fired after an on-set argument got physical. Gibson was suspended from the series after an altercation on the Criminal Minds set, with the network ultimately opting to remove him from the series permanently. EW reported Gibson issued the following statement after his firing: “I love Criminal Minds and have put my heart and soul into it for the last 12 years. I had hoped to see it through to the end, but that won’t be possible now. I would just like to say thank you to the writers, producers, actors, our amazing crew, and, most importantly, the best fans that a show could ever hope to have.”
Gibson also joined Twitter after leaving Criminal Minds, using social media to thank his fans for their long-time support of his work and the series. Gibson tweeted, “I wish I could thank each of you for your friendship & support. I love “Criminal Minds,” & I’m disappointed by what’s happened #ThomasGibson.” In a follow-up tweet he added, “The support you show means the world to me and my family. This is not an ending, but a beginning as well. Thank you all. #ThomasGibson”
