It’s been a year since the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) hunted down the serial killer a.k.a. The Chameleon before dispatching Garcia off to start her new journey, however, as per Deadline, it seems like Paramount+ has plans of reviving “Criminal Minds’’ for the sixteenth season and is already in early development. Nevertheless, the revival would be a spin-off series or a limited series. At this point, nothing is confirmed yet.

The fact that it is still too soon for the project to be carried out, fans of the show shouldn’t be too delighted just yet, but it’s safe to assume that Paramount+ is showing interest in bringing back the show. Deadline also reported that “Criminal Minds” is one of the most successful licensed shows to stream on the giant streamer, which indicates to it having a worldwide attraction. That renders it an important asset for the new streaming platform as Paramount+ seek directions to expand its watch list for hits.

It also opens new opportunities for the series executive producer Erica Messer for plenty of Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) adventures to add to the series final outing. The series has so far produced fifteen seasons and strangely yet quite amusingly, “Criminal Minds” ended on a satisfactory note. We could say it’s a total happy conclusion since none of the main characters died, everyone apart from Garcia who stayed behind with the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU). This indicates that a probable revival could pick up where the last season left off and the tale continues. 

The release date for Criminal Minds season 16: When is it?

Currently, the release date for Criminal Minds season 16 is not available. It is yet to be announced. As previously mentioned, the project is in early development and there are not many details about the potential upcoming season. We’re also clueless since Paramount+ and the series co-producers, CBS and ABC Signature haven’t provided any concrete update till now. But we hope that the project comes to fruition as soon as possible.

Nevertheless, it is only a year since the show concluded, some of the cast and teams have shifted to work on new projects. And since it appears that the revival is being carried out as a continuation of the show, Paramount+ will no doubt bring back the central characters onboard. Fans were also disheartened to learn that one of the major characters wasn’t too keen on having the show revived. Star Paget Brewster shared on her Twitter handle that she deemed the project was not necessary and had nothing to do with her at that time.

It’s not the kind of news you’d want to hear especially if you’re a die-hard fan of this series. However, fans should keep their hopes high and continue to wait patiently for the project to finally happen. Although it is difficult to predict, we can expect the new season to arrive sometime in 2023.

The cast of Criminal Minds Season 16: Who’s in it? 

According to speculations, the revival project will have both the old faces and new characters as well. But we’re not exactly sure who these actors are or if the old characters are down to return for another season. 

The fifteenth season’s central characters included Matthew Gray Gubler (as Spencer Reid), A. J. Cook (as Jennifer Jareau a.k.a. J.J.), Joe Mantegna (as David Rossi), Kirsten Vangsness (as Penelope Garcia), Paget Brewster (as Emily Prentiss), Adam Rodriguez (as Luke Alvez), and Aisha Tyler (as Dr. Tara Lewis).

Guest stars    in season 15 also included Jane Lynch (as Diana Reid), Aubrey Plaza (as Cat Adams), Ben Savage (as Young Jason Gideon), Beth Riesgraf (as Dr. Maeve Donovan), Jayne Atkinson (as Erin Strauss), and C. Thomas Howell (as George Foyet) while recurring characters are Josh Stewart (as William LaMontagne Jr.), Mekhai Andersen (as Henry LaMontagne), Kelly Frye (as Kristy Simmons), Declan Whaley (as David Simmons), Stephen Bishop (as Andrew Mendoza), Michael Mosley (as Everett Lynch), Sharon Lawrence (as Roberta Lynch),

Alex Jennings (as Grace Lynch), Rachael Leigh Cook (as Maxine Brenner), Gail O’Grady (as Krystall Rossi), and Joseph C. Phillips (as Deputy Director James Barbour).

All the major characters that appeared in the last season would likely return in the next season but this is yet to be confirmed. It’s also disappointing that Shemar Moore, who portrayed Derek Morgan (2005-2017) left the show to star in his own show S.W.A.T. on CBS failed to make an appearance in the series finale.

The plot for season 16 of Criminal Minds

Plot details are scarce for season 16 of Criminal Minds. Speaking to EW, Erica Wesser revealed that the writers played with the notion of incorporating a surprise format in the series finale, but since they learned that only ten episodes are remaining, they changed their minds to play it safe.

“There was crazy stuff thrown out in the room, and we didn’t just shoot it down. We would say, ‘Okay, how could that happen?’ The idea of a live episode or… what do you call it?… a documentary film crew following the crew around,” she said. “We ended up exploring some of those, but ultimately we weren’t able to find a way to keep it true to the series.”

But we now that season 16 of Criminal Minds might actually happen, the writers will get a chance to stir things up and begin a new adventure for the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU).