Criminal Minds fans have new reasons to rejoice as it is now confirmed that Matthew Gray Gubler will be returning to the Criminal Minds universe to reprise his role as Dr. Spencer Reid.
Criminal Minds: Evolution debuted in 2022 on Paramount+ and since then Reid’s character has been alluded to several times in the show. Now, he is finally set to return in the reboot after starring in 15 seasons of the original Criminal Minds.
Initially, he was one of the few original cast members who did not reprise their roles in Criminal Minds: Evolution. However, Gubler had always been open to the possibility of coming back to this universe and now that it’s finally happening, let us see what the actor has to say about it.
Matthew Gray Gubler is returning to Criminal Minds
In a recent interview with Ansa, Gubler mentioned his return to Criminal Minds when he was asked about the projects he was working on. He mentioned that besides working on some sentimental projects he will be coming back as Dr. Spencer Reid, adding:
“I shot a new episode of Criminal Minds. I'm working on a film about Halloween, and I'm doing shows, comedies in theaters around America."
Gubler’s announcement quickly went viral and X users could not hide their excitement. One user @cowboylikeniso wrote,
“SPENCER REID IS BACK????? THANK GOD.”
Another user @colinblvvr said,
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN SPENCER REID IS COMING BACK TO CRIMINAL MINDS”
The fans’ excitement is believable since Gubler has not been seen on television since 2021 when he starred in Doll Face Season 2. In 2023, in an interview with Good Housekeeping, he hinted at his television comeback, which only depended on time. He said,
“I am sure I'll go back to comedy and to acting and all of that. I'm just not sure when, but I know I look forward to it. I really love doing everything."
His confirmed appearance in Criminal Minds is perhaps the best possible way to mark the actor’s return to TV.
What does Matthew Gray Gubler’s return mean for Criminal Minds?
It has been mentioned in Criminal Minds: Evolution that Reid’s return depends on him as he is away on a sabbatical. This explains his character’s absence and also aligns with how his character’s conclusion was drawn in THE Criminal Minds Season 15 finale.
In the original Criminal Minds, it was shown that Reid had suffered a brain injury, and though his survival and good health were confirmed, it would take some time before he could function normally.
This storyline left a place for his character to come back in the reboot and that is what is happening now. However, it is not clear what Gubler will be doing when he comes back, it can be expected that he will do what he did in the original series.
Erica Messer, the showrunner, had already previously mentioned that they were keen on making Gubler come back as Reid. She also said to the US Weekly,
We love [Matthew] and he’s always going to be a part of the family. We would love for an opportunity to arise to get him back. And we have tried — and he has tried. It just hasn’t worked out timing wise. I can’t speak to [Season 3 of Criminal Minds: Evolution] because we’re not there yet. But it’s not for lack of trying.”
This interview happened last summer and suggested that timing conflict was the main reason that kept Gubler from appearing in the show. However, with Gubler’s confirmed return in Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3, the conflict seems to have been sorted, much to the fans’ delight.
Criminal Minds: Evolution can be streamed on Paramount+.
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