Last week we learned that the Criminal Minds revival at Paramount+ was not dead and now we are learning just how true that is. Per Deadline, while no one is officially attached to the series, six of the series fan-favorite cast members have agreed to come back if deals are closed and subject to availability.

The six cast members in question are Joe Mantegna, Kirsten Vangsness, Adam Rodriguez, A.J. Cook, Aisha Tyler, and, Paget Brewster. Even though they are in agreement about a return, Deadline reports that finalizing their contracts has been put on hold because Criminal Minds lead studio, ABC Signature, moved to make a deal with the series’ longtime executive producer/showrunner Erica Messer. Messer has an overall pact with the studio and negotiations with her are ongoing. The deal is getting close but not close enough for a deal to be imminent.

The good news is that a license agreement for a 10-episode new season of Criminal Minds has been reached between Paramount+ and ABC Signature and CBS Studios. This needed to be done for the series to move forward so this is a very good sign that this will be happening. Also encouraging is that the six stars that are poised to return are perfectly in sync with moving forward and are ready to finish negotiating once Messer seals her deal. The six returning cast members represent the majority of the Criminal Minds cast from its 15th and final season, although original cast member, Matthew Gray Gubler, has already expressed his desire to move on after playing Spencer Reid for 15 years. Another cast member, Daniel Henney, currently stars in the Amazon series The Wheel Of Time, which shoots in Prague and has recently been picked up for another season. Henney’s guest appearance on Criminal Minds would all depend on his commitment to The Wheel Of Time and its scheduling.

The deals that are being pitched to the six returning stars are said to be multi-year and they are also subject to the actors’ availability. The deals are also not fully exclusive, which means the cast members are able to do pursue major recurring roles on ongoing series and series regular parts on limited series if production doesn’t interfere with Criminal Minds.

Are YOU excited for these potential stars to return to Criminal Minds?