Paramount+ Confirms “Criminal Minds” Revival, Starring Adam Rodriguez

Adam Rodriguez is heading back to his roots

Following more than a year of on- and off- deal-making, Paramount+ has confirmed it has ordered to series a Criminal Minds revival starring the 47-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban American actor and some of his former cast mates.

Adam RodriguezIn addition to Rodriguez, who portrayed Luke Alvez on the original series, the six fan favorites returning for the reboot includes Joe Mantegna, Kirsten Vangsness, A.J. Cook, Aisha Tyler and Paget Brewster. 

Also back is the series’ longtime executive producer/showrunner Erica Messer, who closed her deal to return earlier a couple of months ago.

The actors’ contracts had been contingent on Messer signing a pact with ABC Signature where she is under an overall deal.

By February, Criminal Minds studios ABC Signature and CBS Studios had reached a license agreement with Paramount+ for a 10-episode new season of Criminal Minds. The last several months were spent getting Messer and the cast officially on board, triggering a formal green light, with production slated to begin Aug. 21 in Los Angeles. Mantegna teased the shoot on Twitter with a picture of him on a soundstage “doing a little inspection today for an upcoming project” and #criminalminds.

In the revival series, FBI’s elite team of criminal profilers come up against their greatest threat yet, an UnSub who has used the pandemic to build a network of other serial killers. Now, as the world opens back up, the network goes operational, and the team must hunt them down, one murder at a time.

Mantegna, Vangsness, Rodriguez, Cook, Tyler and Brewster represent the majority of Criminal Minds’ cast in its 15th and final season. As Deadline reported in February, missing from the list are original cast member Matthew Gray Gubler, who had indicated that he was ready to move on after playing Spencer Reid for 15 years, and Daniel Henney, who stars in The Wheel of TimeThe Prime Video series, which films in Prague, and any potential Henney guest appearance on Criminal Minds would be subject to his commitment to Wheel of Time and scheduling.

The actors’ agreements for Criminal Minds are multi-year and are not fully exclusive, according to Deadline, with the cast members able to do major recurring roles on ongoing series and series regular parts on limited series if production does not interfere.

The Criminal Minds revival, whose formal green light was first reported by TVLine, was announced with much fanfare at the streamer’s coming-out presentation last February. By July 31, Brewster told fans on Twitter that “we think it’s dead.” Fast forward six months to Feb. 1 when Nicole Clemens, President, Paramount+ Original Scripted Series, told reporters that Criminal Minds is “alive and well.”

“For 15 seasons, Criminal Minds was at the forefront of cutting-edge scripted drama as it explored the psychology behind crime – thrillingly,” Clemens said in a statement Thursday. “The series never stopped evolving during its run, and we are beyond excited to bring it back into a new era with new stories for a new generation of viewers at Paramount+. Erica, the whole cast and creative team are building a season full of new twists that we are sure will electrify audiences.”

The original series, created by Jeff Davis, follows a group of criminal profilers who work for the FBI as members of its Behavioral Analysis Unit, using behavioral analysis and profiling to investigate crimes and find perpetrators. The group is led by Senior Agent David Rossi (Mantegna) and includes Agents JJ Jareau (Cook), Tara Lewis (Tyler) and Luke Alvez (Rodriguez) as well as Technical Analyst Penelope Garcia (Vangsness) and Unit Chief Emily Prentiss (Brewster).

The classic broadcast procedural is being serialized for binge-driven streaming consumption, with the team coming back together to investigate a single case over 10 episodes in the new season for Paramount+.

Messer serves as showrunner, executive producer and writer. Breen Frazier and Chris Barbour will serve as writers and executive producers, Glenn Kershaw will direct and executive produce, and Mark Gordon will also serve as executive producer.

Criminal Minds is among Paramount Global’s most prized titles in the streaming era.

It had been a top performer on Netflix since before the streamer started releasing viewership information. While Paramount+ has all 15 seasons, Netflix carries the first 12. They accounted for 33.9 billion minutes of viewing on the global platform, making it the most watched title on Netflix in 2021. Criminal Minds also was the third-most-streamed series in 2020 on Netflix behind The Office and Grey’s Anatomy, with 590M hours viewed.

Adam Rodriguez Among Six Original “Criminal Minds” Cast Members In Talks For Show’s Paramount+ Revival

Adam Rodriguez may be returning to his Criminal roots…

The 46-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban American actor is among the original cast members reportedly in final talks to star in the Criminal Minds revival for Paramount+.

Adam RodriguezIn addition to Rodriguez, other fan favorite cast members who’ve reportedly agreed to come back include Joe MantegnaKirsten VangsnessA.J. Cook, Aisha Tyler and Paget Brewster, subject to closing their deals and availability.

Contract talks with Rodriguez and the other original cast members have been put on hold, according to Deadline, as Criminal Minds lead studio, ABC Signature, is focusing on making a deal with the series’ longtime executive producer/showrunner Erica Messer.

Negotiations with Messer, who has an overall pact with the studio, are still ongoing, with the two sides getting closer to a deal.

A license agreement for a 10-episode new season of Criminal Minds has been reached between Paramount+ and the studios behind the crime drama, ABC Signature and CBS Studios.

Rodriguez and the other five originals represent the majority of Criminal Minds’ cast in its 15th and final season.

The original series, created by Jeff Davis, follows a group of criminal profilers who work for the FBI as members of its Behavioral Analysis Unit, using behavioral analysis and profiling to investigate crimes and find perpetrators. The group is led by Senior Agent David Rossi (Mantegna) and includes Agents JJ Jareau (Cook), Tara Lewis (Tyler) and Luke Alvez (Rodriguez) as well as Technical Analyst Penelope Garcia (Vangsness) and Unit Chief Emily Prentiss (Brewster).

The classic broadcast procedural is being serialized for binge-driven streaming consumption, with the team coming back together to investigate a single case over 10 episodes in the new season for Paramount+.

Criminal Minds is among ViacomCBS’ most prized titles in the streaming era. It had been a top performer on Netflix since before the streamer started releasing viewership information. While Paramount+ has all 15 seasons, Netflix carries the first 12. They accounted for 33.9 billion minutes of viewing on the global platform, making it the most watched title on Netflix in 2021. Criminal Minds also was the third-most-streamed series in 2020 on Netflix behind The Office and Grey’s Anatomy, with 590M hours viewed.

Zach Villa to Star in LGBTQ-Themed Horror-Thriller “Hypochondriac”

Zach Villa is dealing with a little health anxiety

The 34-year-old Mexican American actor, singer, songwriter, dancer and musician will star in Addison Heimann’s feature directorial debut Hypochondriac.

Zach Villa Villa will star opposite Devon Graye, Madeline Zima, Chris Doubek, Marlene FortePaget Brewster, Adam Busch, Michael Cassidy, Peter Mensah and Debra Wilson in the project.

In the LGBTQ-themed horror-thriller, a young potter’s life devolves into chaos as he loses function of his body while being haunted by the physical manifestation of his childhood trauma.

Bay Dariz is producing through his Minutehand Pictures banner alongside John Humber, with Michelle Lewitt handling casting.

Heimann is a queer filmmaker whose goal is to elevate and empower queer characters in the genre space. His shorts and web series have played the Chicago International Film Festival, Fantasia, Inside Out, Atlanta International, the Nashville Film Festival, Outfest, and the New York Television Festival, among others. They can also be seen online via Dust, Omeleto, Film Shortage, and Revry.

Villa’s previous credits include American Horror Story: 1984, Bordertown and Station 19.

Lin-Manuel Miranda to Lend Voice to Season Finale of “DuckTales,” “The Last Adventure”

Lin-Manuel Miranda is going on a last adventure

The 41-year-old Puerto Rican actor, singer, songwriter, rapper, composer, director, producer, author and playwright will take part in the 90-minute DuckTales series finale, which will air on Monday, March 15 at 7:00 pm ET/PT.

Lin-Manuel Miranda

In the finale, titled “The Last Adventure!,” the future of adventuring hangs in the balance as the Duck family uncovers earth-shattering secrets in a final standoff with the Fiendish Organization for World Larceny (F.O.W.L.).

In addition to Miranda, returning guest voices include Giancarlo Esposito, Julie Bowen, Jaime CamilJameela Jamil, Catherine Tate, Stephanie Beatriz, Paul F. Tompkins, Jim Rash, Margo Martindale.

Jason Mantzoukas, John Hodgman, Retta, Kimiko Glenn, Libe Barer, Jaleel White and Amy Sedaris also return.

Noël Wells and Riki Lindhome guest star as sisters, June and May, respectively.

“It has been an absolute honor to adventure along with the Duck Family for three seasons of derring-do bad and good luck tales. Ever since Carl Barks took a silly squawking duck from a funny animal cartoon and sent him looking for pirate gold, these characters have been part of a constantly evolving legacy of invention and reinvention,” executive producer Matt Youngberg and co-executive producer Francisco Angones said. “We set out to honor all those things that we’ve loved about ‘DuckTales’ since we were kids and introduce new parts of that legacy for families around the globe. Along the way, our stellar crew, unbelievable cast and endlessly supportive fans have become a bit of a family ourselves. And it has been a great joy to solve mysteries and rewrite history alongside them.”

Disney also added that new DuckTales episodes will debut every Monday starting February 22, leading up to the series finale.

In addition to bringing the stories the Duck Family adventures to an end, the series finale will also feature a dramatic reading of the DuckTales main title song.

Cast members David Tennant, Danny Pudi, Ben Schwartz, Bobby Moynihan, Kate Micucci, Beck Bennett, Toks Olagundoye and Paget Brewster come together to read the lyrics of the iconic musical number.

Taylor Ortega to Voice Multiple Characters on Syfy’s “Magical Girl Friendship Squad” Series

Taylor Ortega is joining a new squad

The 30-year-old Latina actress/comedian will star in Syfy’s TZGZ anime-inspired comedy Magical Girl Friendship Squad.

Taylor Ortega

Created by Kelsey StephanidesMagical Girl Friendship Squadis a female-driven anime comedy about two young women, Alex (Quinta Brunson) and Daisy (Anna Akana), who are destined to save the Universe…as soon as they figure out how to pay their rent.

In January, TZGZ greenlit a straight-to-series order of the longer-form version of the show (six 15-minute episodes).

Produced by Cartuna, the short-form version, Magical Girl Friendship Squad: Origins (six four-minute episodes), currently airs as part of the late-night adult animation block’s acquisition slate.

In addition to Brunson and Akana, Series regulars include Ana Gasteyer and Matteo Lane.

Christine Baranski,Manny Jacinto,Helen HongEric Bauza and Sarah “Squirm” Sherman will recur on Magical Girl Friendship Squad

Guest stars are Jason MantzoukisPaget Brewster,Vella LovellJamie Loftus and Patti Harrison.

Ortega, who starred in the Disney Channel’s live-action Kim Possible movie, will appear as a utility player alongside Stephanie Sheh and Daisy Hobbs.

Ortega, Sheh and Hobbs will voice multiple roles.

CBS Renews Adam Rodriguez’s “Criminal Minds” for a 14th Season

Adam Rodriguez will still be Minds-ing his business…

CBS has renewed its veteran drama Criminal Minds, starring the 43-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban American actor, for a 14th season.

Adam Rodriguez

After a long run at 9:00 pm, Criminal Minds moved to 10:00 pm this season. It has improved the time period and is doing well in delayed viewing.

The crime drama ended its 13th season on a cliffhanger, reportedly with the blessing of CBS. A cancellation would’ve robbed the show’s loyal fans of a proper ending and would’ve deprived the series of hitting the 300th episode milestone, ending its run with 299.

Now Criminal Minds‘ Season 14 premiere will also mark the show’s 300th episode, giving it an extra promotional push.

Criminal Minds revolves around an elite team of FBI profilers who analyze the country’s most twisted criminal minds, anticipating their next moves before they strike again. Joe Mantegna stars as David Rossi, along with Paget Brewster as Emily Prentiss, Matthew Gray Gubler as Dr. Spencer Reid, A.J. Cook as Jennifer “JJ” Jareau, Aisha Tyler as Dr. Tara Lewis, Kirsten Vangsness as Penelope Garcia, Rodriguez as Luke Alvez and Daniel Henney as Matt Simmons.

ABC Studios produces in association with CBS Television Studios.

Bratt Returning to “Modern Family” as Sofia Vergara’s Ex

If you’ve missed Benjamin Bratt on television since the series finale of Private Practice in January, then you’re in luck.

The 49-year-old half-Peruvian American actor will be reprising his role as Sofia Vergara’s on-screen ex-husband Javier Delgado on Modern Family.

Benjamin Bratt on Modern Family

Bratt, who first appeared on January 6, 2010 during the ABC sitcom’s first season, will be back on Wednesday, April 10. And he’ll be bringing along his new woman, portrayed by Criminal MindsPaget Brewster.

Brewster plays Trish, who is basically Gloria’s opposite: book smart and sophisticated.

“Different from Javier’s usual assortment of bimbos and airheads, Trish is highly ­intelligent and confident,” says executive producer Jeffrey Richman, who co-wrote the episode. “This brings up new and unexpected feelings for ­Gloria, which come out in a fiercely competitive game of Charades.”

Bratt recently starred opposite Dwayne Johnson in the film Snitch.