Is the ‘Criminal Minds’ Revival Still Happening on Paramount+?
It’s been six months since Paramount+ first announced the Criminal Minds revival. Fans of the original CBS crime series eagerly awaited more news on the project, but very few details emerged. Then, after a disappointing tweet from star Paget Brewster, who played profiler-turned-BAU chief Emily Prentiss, many feared Paramount+ dropped the project. Is the Criminal Minds revival still in the works?
Paramount+ announced the ‘Criminal Minds’ revival in February 2021
Criminal Minds originally aired on CBS from September 2005 to February 2020 with 324 episodes. The procedural crime show followed a fictional version of the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) and featured a new serial killer case in most episodes. However, each season did typically also cover a major case over the course of the episodes.
In February 2021, Paramount+ announced its plan to revive Criminal Minds in a limited series on the streaming service. As Deadline reported, unlike the original show, the series would follow one criminal case over 10 episodes. Alongside the revival, Paramount+ planned to develop a true-crime docuseries called The Real Criminal Minds, featuring a real profiler and allegedly hosted by a former Criminal Minds cast member.
Paramount+’s former Head of Programming, Julie McNamara, told Deadline that the shows would come as part of a “suite of new projects” relating to crime dramas.
It’s worth noting that Criminal Minds has shown major staying power over the years. Netflix added new seasons of the show until 2017, but it has continued to remain popular among subscribers.
According to Neilsen streaming data, as shared by The Hollywood Reporter, Criminal Minds was the third most-streamed acquired series from June 28 to July 4, 2021, with 647 million minutes viewed. Netflix currently holds Criminal Minds Seasons 1 through 12 out of 15.
Paget Brewster says she thinks it’s ‘dead,’ but Paramount+ says otherwise
In July 2021, a Criminal Minds fan asked Brewster on Twitter if she had any updates regarding the revival. Unfortunately, the actor’s response did not make the project’s future sound promising.
Sadly, we think it’s dead. I’ll let you know if there is any progress, but it seems unlikely. Which is a bummer,” Brewster said.
Brewster’s response brought in replies from hundreds of fans expressing their disappointment. But soon after reports of the actor’s tweet circulated, Paramount+ offered a rebuttal.
The streaming service, which launched just a few months after announcing the Criminal Minds revival, told TVLine that the show is “still very much in development.” However, Paramount+ did not offer any more updates on the revival’s progress.
Paget Brewster hoped to return for the ‘Criminal Minds’ revival
When Paramount+ announced the revival, it reportedly planned to bring back most or all of the Criminal Minds Season 15 cast: Joe Mantegna, Matthew Gray Gubler, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Aisha Tyler, Daniel Henney, Adam Rodriguez, and Brewster. However, the service never confirmed any cast members.
In April 2021, Brewster encouraged fans in a tweet to “petition” Paramount+ for the revival.
“We, the cast and writers, are doing everything we can,” she said.
When asked if she would join the revival, Brewster said, “If they want it to succeed, yes. Not trying to be a d— but … they can hire new people and see where that goes, too.”
At this time, Criminal Minds fans will have to trust Paramount+’s brief update. Hopefully, the service will move closer to announcing more details in the coming weeks.
