Criminal Minds
Paget Brewster is back as Emily Prentiss in a series regular role (and not a recurring one) in “Criminal Minds” Season 12. CBS

“Criminal Minds” continues to undergo many changes off-screen. The CBS crime drama is changing its cast in Season 12 following the abrupt firing of Thomas Gibson after he had an on-set altercation with the show’s writer-producer, Virgil Williams, and the exit of Shemar Moore in Season 11.

We reported earlier that the long-running procedural was searching for two series regulars to be added to its cast. Well, it looks like CBS has found the perfect actress for one of these two roles. Paget Brewster, who played Supervisory Special Agent Emily Prentiss on “Criminal Minds” till Season 7, has been promoted to a series regular in Season 12, Deadline reports.

Brewster was earlier tapped to appear in several episodes of the upcoming season. However, with Gibson’s firing, the former “Grandfathered” actress will be back as a series regular and not as a guest-star or in a recurring role. This is certainly good news to long-time “Criminal Minds” fans who have watched Prentiss in earlier seasons.

Brewster’s Prentiss will first make an appearance in an Oct. 12 episode. “We’re all so excited to have Paget with us full time,” Erica Messer, the executive producer of the CBS series, said in a statement. “The BAU [Behavioral Analysis Unit] family has definitely missed her, on screen and off. Having her back on set has been great, it’s like she never left.”

With Brewster cast as one of the two series regulars, the show will be adding at least one more new cast member, TVGuide reports. One of these two series regulars, including Prentiss, could be Hotch’s replacement. In fact, given Prentiss’ experience, it is highly likely that she will succeed Hotch as the new team leader of the BAU.

“Criminal Minds” has also promoted Aisha Tyler, who plays Dr. Tara Lewis, to series regular and added new cast member Adam Rodriguez as FBI Agent Luke Alvez.

“Criminal Minds” returns with Season 12 on Sept. 28 at 9 p.m. ET on CBS.

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