Are you ready to dive into the twisted minds of criminals once again as Criminal Minds: Evolution returns for its highly anticipated second season? If yes, then here is everything we know so far about Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2.
There is no question that this gripping crime drama series has been known for its intense storytelling and captivating characters, which take the viewers on a thrilling journey into the dark world of serial killers, and the brilliant Behavioural Analysis Unit (BAU) unit, which strives to bring justice by delving even deeper into the intricate psychology behind some of the heinous crimes, which has piqued the interest of the viewers in knowing how the series will unfold further with the second season.
So, if you are one of them, then you’ve come to the right spot! We have compiled all the necessary information for you to get a head start on the forthcoming season, which includes information about the potential release date and other crucial details. Hence, it’s time to buckle up and get ready for a rollercoaster of a ride that you won’t forget anytime soon. Continue reading to find out about all the latest updates on Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2.
Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Release Date Update: When will it premiere?
For your consideration, we want to clear the air by informing our readers that the much-awaited second season of “Criminal Minds: Evolution,” will not be available on Paramount+ in August 2023, making the fandom wait a bit longer. Yes, it’s true! Sadly, due to the ongoing 2023 Writers Guild of America strike along with the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, which hasn’t reached a resolution yet, the writing for the season has been delayed, thus causing a temporary halt in production of the new season.
We can say this with some assurance because the show’s makers haven’t provided an official release date, even though the next season’s production was previously expected to start later this year. But right now, it looks like the chances of the shoot beginning anytime soon are minimal, with one of the main reasons being the lack of writers and actors, leading to a major delay in the official production, as the negotiations are still bound to happen in the coming weeks. Moreover, in a recent meeting which was held for the first time in more than three months!
Sadly, the Writers Guild and the AMPTP on Friday failed to reach an agreement to resume contract negotiations. Their inability to agree on terms for returning to the bargaining table comes after their much-anticipated meeting to discuss a possible resumption of talks. “As of now, there is no agreement on these items, because the AMPTP said they needed to consult with their member studios before moving forward,” the union said in a statement last week on Friday.
Due to this, there is absolutely no doubt left, and we are certain that the new season will be delayed further.
On the other hand, no scripts for the new episodes have been written so far, due to which there is no assurance that production can begin immediately once the strike concludes, as it will require more time for the writers to create some great scripts for the project, which is going to take a while! Additionally, Paget Brewster revealed to TVLine that it may be some time before production picks up for season 2. According to the outlet, the popular show was expected to start in early spring, but it might not be the case anymore with the rise of ongoing hurdles in the production quote:
“Winter might be a bit optimistic since a well-placed source tells TVLine that the start of production — originally penciled in for April, and then pushed to June — is now ‘TBD,’ due to the Writer’s Guild of America strike,” the report reads. In conclusion, it’s unlikely that Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 will premiere in 2023, and the network might soon release a revised schedule indicating that the show might make its official comeback sometime around 2024, which will make up for the first quarter lasting from January to March as the ideal release window, only if the strike isn’t able to get resolved within the next few weeks.
So, we urge readers to just wait and see what the future holds!
As any updates relating to this subject is still just pure conjecture, as no comment about it has been made by the verified source. Hence, we recommend readers follow the official social handles to catch up with all the new updates and developments whenever they are published. You should also check for official statements issued by verified sources to be informed about the status of the strikes. Meanwhile, check out the official renewal announcement as shared on the official show’s Instagram handle, quoting, “Wheels up for another season!!! #CriminalMinds”
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Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Plot: What to expect?
Even though there were no further announcements regarding the plot, we expect the series to continue the premise that it established with the prior season!
Criminal Minds: Evolution is a revival and sequel of the original television series, which ended in 2020, and follows members of the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) as they are faced with a network of serial killers built during the pandemic. The show is an expansion of the original CBS series, which in the current season showcases the FBI’s elite team of criminal profilers coming up against an UnSub who has used the pandemic to build a network of other serial killers. As the world opens back up and the network goes operational, the team must hunt them down, one murder at a time.
*Spoiler Alert*
Moreover, the series’ much-awaited second season will also be expected to pick up elements from the first season’s final episode, “Dead End,” which was written by Chris Barbour and directed by Glenn Kershaw. In the finale, the viewers get to see that Voit has Rossi in his grip and comes up against the limits of his technical knowledge and mental strength. The BAU is increasingly getting a grip on Voit as he shows how far he is willing to go with his deadly practices.
“We’re thrilled to bring even more twisted storylines to our loyal fans of Criminal Minds: Evolution with the order of another season,” said Tanya Giles, chief programming officer of Paramount Streaming, in a statement. “The series has always been a consistent top performer for Paramount+ and fans have quickly embraced this new season with its more serialized elements. There are still many dark twists and turns yet to come for the BAU this season and we can’t wait for fans to see what’s in store.”
Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Potential Spoilers: What has been revealed?
Even though the creators have remained tight-lipped on this topic, the showrunner Erica Messer recently revealed that Voit would be a twisted resource for the team in Season 2, quote: “The plan is to have Voit back next season almost as our Hannibal Lecter. And when things come up regarding Gold Star is when we have to go get his help,” Messer said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. Also, stating, “We would love nothing more than for that to work out, but it won’t be easy.”
The showrunner also teased some relationship drama up ahead, including a potential love triangle for Penelope, Alvez, and Tyler, quote, “There can be a little bit more of a triangle than we’ve ever really done on the show, in terms of the members being in relationships,” Messer told Variety. “We also didn’t want to deny Garcia and Tyler this bond because it does feel special and real.” Looking at these statements, we’ll just have to wait and see what decision the show creators will take as the best consideration for the second season!
Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Cast: Who will and will not reprise their roles?
The original main cast members who will be continuing their roles in the second season include the following: Joe Mantegna as David Rossi, AJ Cook as Jennifer “JJ” Jareau, Kirsten Vangsness as Penelope Garcia, Aisha Tyler as Dr. Tara Lewis, Adam Rodriguez as Luke Alvez, and Paget Brewster as Emily Prentiss. The recurring cast members who are also speculated to reprise their roles are as follows Zach Gilford as Elias Voit, Josh Stewart as Will LaMontagne Jr, Nicholas D’Agosto as Deputy Director Doug Bailey, Nicole Pacent as Rebecca Wilson, Ryan-James Hatanaka as Tyler Green, and Kiele Sanchez as Sydney Voit.
There are some guest stars who aren’t confirmed to return, which include Gail O’Grady as Krystall Rossi, Luke Benward as Benjamin Reeves, and Silas Weir Mitchell as Cyrus Lebrun. In addition to this, we would also like to highlight that these cast members are still subject to change, as it is still uncertain who will join or leave the show for the upcoming season. Hence, we’ll just have to wait and see what happens next! Criminal Minds: Evolution is produced by ABC Signature and CBS Studios. Messer serves as showrunner and executive producer, with Breen Frazier, Chris Barbour, Glenn Kershaw, and Mark Gordon also executive producing.
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Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Episode Count: How many will be there and where to stream them?
The next season is expected to consist of 10 episodes, just to be consistent with the first season. Of course, we would also like to stress the fact that the ongoing 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strike that was discussed earlier might drastically affect the series’ fate, as it can be canceled altogether if the production gets delayed further. Until we get any confirmation, we’ll just have to pray and hope for the best outcome. Additionally, Messer also teased the following to TV Line, which states:
“In the first four episodes so far, two are a little bit serial, and the other two are not.”
The new season along with all the prior episodes, will be available to stream exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. and on Disney+ in various regions according to the subscriber’s locations, with many other series of the same genre also accessible on the streaming platform with a range of membership options. Paramount+ is an American subscription video-on-demand service owned by Paramount Global, for which you can watch thousands of your favorite shows on any device.
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Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Official Trailer: Has it been released?
As stated above, the new episodes have not yet been filmed due to the ongoing dual strikes, which are happening for the first time in 63 years. As a result, major Hollywood production houses are at a temporary halt! As a result, no official teaser or trailer for the upcoming season has been released, and it won’t be released anytime soon until the strikes reach an agreement. Moreover, it takes a lot of time for such promotional stuff to be released, which usually begins a month or two before the premiere of the new episodes!
In the meantime, check out this official trailer for the first season, which received a fairly good reception from critics and fans around the world. In case you haven’t streamed the show, we can assure you that the official trailer for the first season, which is a revival of the series that originally ended in 2020, reflects the following, “The BAU is returning to tackle their biggest case ever, and the deeper they dig, the darker it gets as the members of the Behavioural Analysis Unit (BAU) are faced with a network of serial killers built during the pandemic.”
Check out the official trailer for Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 1 below:
Catch up on all the episodes, and let us know what you think of Criminal Minds: Evolution being renewed for Season 2 in the comments.