Executive producer Erica Messer plans to shy away from introducing a new character in "Criminal Minds" in the wake of Jennifer Love Hewitt's departure from the series. Instead, fans can expect to see familiar faces in season 11.
"I would not be worried about it. I really wouldn't," Messer told Zap2it about Hewitt's exit from the show. "We have such a strong group together for so many years. I think season 11 is going to be a continuation of that."
Messer has been underlining her plans to "dive into these people we've known and loved for 10 years" and to turn the spotlight toward the "people who have come and gone in the past 10 years and bringing people back."
The showrunner has yet to reveal which characters are set to put in an appearance in the show's new run but actor Joe Mantegna, known for his role as Senior Supervisory Special Agent David Rossi, was very vocal about the possibility of Paget Brewster coming back as Supervisory Special Agent Emily Prentiss.
"Well, there's been talk of — there's a chance Paget may make an appearance now and again. Erica, our producer mentioned it in an interview that there's a possibility that Paget may return from time to time," Mantegna wrote in a Reddit AMA.
Messer has yet to comment on this but if there's one character guaranteed to return in season 11 of the long-running CBS crime drama, it is Special Agent Jennifer "JJ" Jareau, played by actress A. J. Cook. Cook is also pregnant but unlike Hewitt, she will be back in the new season after maternity leave. This, however, means that she will be absent in the first few episodes.
"If she has the baby at the end of July, we'll have to figure out how much time she'll want," Messer explained to Zap2it. "My guess is it will probably be the first five episodes."
Messer also hinted at Jordan Todd's possible return, adding that it "would be fun to be able to do that."
"Criminal Minds" season 11 will premiere this fall.
