Matthew Gray Gubler, renowned for his role as Dr. Spencer Reid in the long-running “Criminal Minds”, has confirmed his return to the show in a recent interview. Despite not reprising the role for the Paramount+ revival “Criminal Minds: Evolution” initially, he had always been open to coming back as Dr. Reid at some point.
In an interview while discussing his work as an author and illustrator, Gubler stated that he “shot a new episode of Criminal Minds”. It’s possible he means he’s returned as a director, given his past experience helming 12 episodes of the original series.
“Criminal Minds: Evolution” has accounted for Reid’s absence by suggesting he’s on sabbatical, which aligns with his storyline in the season 15 finale where he suffered a brain injury and had to recover. Showrunner Erica Messer has expressed a desire for Gubler to return as Reid, though timing and scheduling issues previously got in the way. However, a recent development where Gubler is set to lead the “Einstein” pilot for CBS, which is co-produced by the same studio as “Criminal Minds: Evolution”, might ease those conflicts.
What this could mean is that Gubler might simply be directing an episode of “Criminal Minds: Evolution” season 3. As the new installment nears its debut, more details about his involvement are likely to surface.
Gubler’s character, Spencer Reid, is sorely missed by fans. Since leaving the role, Gubler has been busy with other projects, like writing best-selling children’s books and taking on roles in various shows and films. His character in the potential CBS show, if picked up, has similarities and differences to Reid. Despite branching out, his time as Reid clearly had a major impact, and fans are understandably excited at the possibility of seeing him return to “Criminal Minds”. Until more information is revealed, we can only speculate on the nature of his comeback.
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