Overview
- Paramount+ confirmed on Friday, October 30 that Criminal Minds: Evolution will conclude with its 20th season, which the streamer says will premiere in 2027.
- The principal cast — Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Aisha Tyler, RJ Hatanaka, Adam Rodriguez and Paget Brewster — are set to return for the final season.
- Production on Season 20 finished earlier this fall, so industry reporting and showrunner comments indicate the episodes were completed before the cancellation decision.
- Deadline and other outlets report the cancellation was made recently under the new Paramount+/Skydance leadership led by Casey Bloys, a choice described as strategic against the streamer’s shifting priorities despite the show’s solid streaming placement.
- Showrunner Erica Messer issued a statement thanking cast, crew and fans while noting the team is now navigating an abrupt end, and several cast members expressed surprise publicly with Kirsten Vangsness saying she learned of the news about 90 minutes before it was announced.