Paramount+ has canceled Criminal Minds: Evolution, bringing the long-running procedural franchise to a close after 20 total seasons. The decision arrived as a surprise to the cast, who learned of the cancellation just 90 minutes before the studio made the news public on October 30.
Skydance Direct to Consumer Co-Chair Casey Bloys and Paramount+
The BAU is closing its doors once again. The streaming service confirmed on Friday, October 30, that the upcoming 20th season of Criminal Minds: Evolution will mark the final run for the franchise on Paramount+. The decision represents the first official cancellation for the platform’s new leadership team under Skydance Direct to Consumer Co-Chair and Chief Content Officer Casey Bloys, though sources indicated the call was made following a recommendation from the previous regime.
Cast Blindsided by Sudden Cancellation Notice.
Production on the final batch of episodes had already wrapped earlier in the fall, meaning the writers and crew constructed the season without knowing it would serve as a series finale. Longtime cast members learned their fate just 90 minutes before the public announcement.
Kirsten Vangsness Hopes for Future Revivals
Kirsten Vangsness, who has played Penelope Garcia across all 20 seasons, addressed the sudden conclusion in an Instagram video shared on October 30. She noted that while the news came abruptly, the cancellation notice included the phrase for now
in its industry reporting, leaving a glimmer of hope for future revivals.
‘CRIMINAL MINDS: EVOLUTION’ will end with Season 20 on Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/DaHNvDQeFh
While suddenly navigating the end of this chapter, I’m filled with gratitude for our remarkable cast, writers, directors and crew who have poured their hearts into this show, and for the incredible fans around the world whose unwavering loyalty has kept Criminal Minds going for two decades.
Erica Messer, Showrunner and Executive Producer, via The Hollywood Reporter
Co-star Aisha Tyler shared industry metrics highlighting the show’s massive streaming footprint, pointing to data showing Criminal Minds racked up 13.15 billion minutes watched, which placed the series at No. 11 among the most-streamed television titles. Despite ranking in Paramount+’s internal Top 10, the show’s broadcast-style procedural format and high production costs ultimately contributed to the shutdown.
Two Decades Across CBS and Paramount+.
The procedural originally premiered on CBS on September 22, 2005, following an elite team of criminal profilers in the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit. Mandy Patinkin led the original cast as supervisor Jason Gideon before departing after three seasons, paving the way for Joe Mantegna to take over as David Rossi. The franchise previously expanded with two separate offshoots: Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior starring Forest Whitaker in 2011, and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders led by Gary Sinise from 2016 to 2017.
The original network run spanned 15 seasons and more than 300 episodes before concluding in February 2020. Paramount+ revived the property in November 2022 as Criminal Minds: Evolution, shifting to shorter 10-episode arcs. Even with its combined run ending, the show ties for No. 5 among the longest-running drama series, sitting just behind Law & Order: SVU, Law & Order, NCIS, and Grey’s Anatomy.
“Criminal Minds: Evolution” will end with its upcoming 20th season on Paramount+. The series’ showrunner and executive producer said in a statement: “It’s hard to put into words what ‘Criminal Minds’ has meant to all of us who have been fortunate enough to be part of this… pic.twitter.com/rwdCn2UtDq
Final Season Details and the Unresolved Future.
The upcoming farewell season will bring back familiar regulars including Joe Mantegna, Paget Brewster, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Aisha Tyler, Adam Rodriguez, and RJ Hatanaka, working alongside showrunner Erica Messer. Zach Gilford, who portrayed Elias Voit across the Evolution era, reflected on the unintended finality of the shoot after learning production had closed on a permanent series end.
'Criminal Minds: Evolution' will wrap up with its upcoming 20th season, bringing the long-running crime drama to a close after two decades on television. The final season is set to premiere on Paramount+ in 2027, with longtime cast members returning for the BAU’s last chapter. pic.twitter.com/7CTXsEpNJ6
You wrap a show and a lot of times you’re like, ‘I don’t know if I’m coming back next year and if we’re going to have another season in general.’ On this, I did know that it was the end.
Zach Gilford, Actor, via Yahoo
Season 20 Premiering on Paramount+ in 2027
Season 20 is scheduled to premiere on Paramount+ in 2027, though an exact release date has not yet been announced. Whether the final episodes will offer definitive closure or leave the door open for another platform to pick up the franchise remains unconfirmed.
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