Paget Brewster's recurring stint in her season 12 comeback on "Criminal Minds" has officially become long-term.
Executive producer Erica Messer revealed via a statement shared by TVLine that Brewster's character Emily Prentiss had been promoted as a series regular in season 12.
"We're all so excited to have Paget with us full time," Messer stated in the press release. "The BAU family has definitely missed her, on screen and off. Having her back on set has been great, it's like she never left."
Prentiss was first introduced in season 2 in the episode titled "The Last Word." She announced that she will leave the show as a main cast member in season 7, but she continues to appear in the long-running police procedural series in a guest starring role. She was last seen in an episode from season 11 as the entire cast bids goodbye to Shemar Moore's character Derek Morgan.
The casting announcement comes two weeks after Thomas Gibson was fired from the show after he got involved on an on-set altercation with one of the show's producers while shooting for season 12. Could this mean that Prentiss will replace Gibson's character Aaron Hotchner as the senior supervisory agent of BAU in the upcoming season.
Aside from Brewster, the series will also promote Aisha Tyler as a regular cast member for her character Dr. Tara Lewis, while "CSI: Miami" alum Adam Rodriguez had been tapped to portray the regular role of Agent Luke Alvez in the upcoming season.
Early reports also claimed that "Criminal Minds" producers are also looking forward to add two new series regulars after the recent casting changes. However, it was not clear in Brewster is already included in the two new casting additions.
CBS will release the premiere episode of "Criminal Minds" season 12 on Wednesday, Sept. 28.
