According to TVLine, schedules have finally matched, and Gubler, 44, will join the cast—but don’t expect to see much of him in the Paramount+ series. He will only appear in one season 18 episode. The publication also says that Criminal Minds finished filming season 18 earlier this week.

Gubler, who plays Spencer Reid on Criminal Minds, is a fan favorite who has been noticeably absent from the sequel series since its premiere in November 2022. According to the plot, Reid and special agent Matt Simmons (played by Daniel Henney, another notable absent cast member) were abroad on assignment.

“It’s a little bit of a mystery what Reid and Simmons are up to,” showrunner Erica Messer told TVLine before Evolution’s premiere. “But they are not forgotten. There are still items on Dr. Reid’s and, I assume, Matt Simmons’ desks.

After concluding in 2020, Paramount+ reintroduced Criminal Minds, with Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Aisha Tyler, Adam Rodriguez, and Paget Brewster reprising their roles.

Gubler portrayed Reid from 2005 until 2020, appearing in almost 300 episodes of the popular program. On February 19, 2020, he posted an emotional goodbye on Instagram, including a snapshot of his most prized props.

“I’ve been carrying these three props with me practically every day for the past 15 years. After tonight, I’ll only keep them in my heart, where I’ll always have memories of the finest crew, cast, and fands (fans/friends) a fictitious crimefighter could possibly have,” he added in the description.

Gubler expressed interest in returning to the event in September 2023.

“I would feel honored,” he said about participating in Criminal Minds: Evolution during an interview with Ireland’s The Six O’Clock Show, as reported by Screen Rant. “They created a newer version of the show, but it was filming concurrently with another project I was working on.” But I can’t wait—hopefully,