Is Will Dead, and Is Reid Back? 'Criminal Minds: Evolution' Has Big Twists
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'Criminal Minds: Evolution' continues the story of the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) as they begrudgingly work with serial killer Elias Voit (Zach Gilford) in order to capture his followers.
More Entertainment: Zach Gilford on 'Complex' 'Criminal Minds: Evolution' Villain Elias Voit
The series stars Paget Brewster (Emily Prentiss), Joe Mantegna (David Rossi), A.J. Cook (Jennifer "JJ" Jareau), Kirsten Vangsness (Penelope Garcia), Aisha Tyler (Tara Lewis), and Adam Rodriguez (Luke Alvez).
Now, fans are ecstatic that a fan-favorite character is making their return. However, it appears to be coming at the cost of someone who has been around since the beginning.
Criminal Minds: Evolution
Criminal Minds: Evolution
Where to Watch 'Criminal Minds: Evolution'
'Criminal Minds: Evolution' streams exclusively on Paramount+. The new season premiered on May 8, and new episodes are available every Thursday.
More Entertainment: 'Criminal Minds: Evolution' Season 18 Debuts May 8: Full List of Episodes
What Happened to Will in 'Criminal Minds: Evolution'
Fans were completely caught off guard in Episode 2 when Will LaMontagne Jr. surprisingly died from an aneurysm in front of JJ, his wife. While this created a dramatic story beat, there was actually a behind-the-scenes reason for this death.
While no reason has been given since the death, actor Josh Stewart confirmed in January 2024 that he wasn't returning for the season.
No sadly, my days of playing Will LaMontagne Jr. are over.
You guys have been the absolute best.
🙏 https://t.co/jq9LxhL3HO — Josh Stewart (@J0SHSTEWART) January 17, 2024
Showrunner Erica Messer later confirmed this in an interview with TVLine, noting that they love Will, but it was time to move on.
Cast members have since spoken out in their love for the character and Stewart.
"[It] was a really difficult episode to shoot, because we were saying goodbye to Will, and we were saying goodbye to Josh Stewart, who's played Will for what, maybe 17 years?" Paget Brewster said to The Independent.
Is Spencer Reid Returning to 'Criminal Minds: Evolution'?
While it's said to see Will go, a fan-favorite character is returning in his absence. Matthew Gray Gubler officially made his return as Spencer Reid in Season 18, Episode 3 during Will's funeral.
However, this doesn't mean that Gubler is necessarily returning to 'Criminal Minds' full-time.
First look at 'EINSTEIN', starring Matthew Gray Gubler
The series follows the great grandson of Albert Einstein whose bad-boy antics end up with him having to help a local police detective solve cases of the week. pic.twitter.com/rQ2Nlff4Ez — DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) May 8, 2025
The talented actor is set to star in the upcoming CBS series 'Einstein,' a comedic procedural where Gubler plays a descendant of Albert Einstein who winds up helping police solve crime.
Will 'Criminal Minds: Evolution' Feature a JJ and Reid Romance?
Naturally, Reid's reappearance has fans wondering if the romance between he and JJ will spark up once again, especially since the 'Evolution' has been ignoring
While making a move at Will's funeral would have obviously been in bad taste, it cannot be denied that there is now an opening for the relationship to turn more intimate.
That being said, this will all depend on a few things: whether the writers actually want to put a focus on that relationship and whether Gubler will be sticking around much longer. Unfortunately, fans will have to wait and see.
More Entertainment: How 'Criminal Minds: Evolution' Teases Spencer Reid and Matt Simmons Return
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