'Criminal Minds' Latest News And Updates: Season 12 Is Coming Soon With Casting Changes?

CBS's police procedural crime drama "Criminal Minds" will return on its twelfth season with some tweaking on its cast. BAU's newest agent will join the team to track down the Crimson King, one of the 13 unsubs who have escaped in last season's finale and who have caused Alvez's former partner to be paralyzed.

Also, a fun kind of friendship will be formed between Prentiss and Alvez, with the latter returning because of Hotch being on special assignment from the director. Brewster was promoted to being a "Criminal Minds" regular in the wake of Gibson's firing, as reported by UPI.

Her character has been running Interpol for four years and according to the actress, she will be returning with more power. There's also a possibility that Prentiss might even be replacing Hotch as the boss but that's an angle yet to be confirmed.

According to TV Guide, Jane Lynch will also return in "Criminal Minds" as the schizophrenic mom of Reid, Diana, who is now struggling with onset dementia. Because of this, Reid will have a heavy story arc which will be a "challenge" for him, writer Messer claims.

More exposure for Dr. Lewis is also to be expected, as there will be episodes dedicated to the doctor. Messer claimed that she would be writing about what makes Tara tick and dig deeper into her character. The doctor would have a big moment in the premier episode of the new season of "Criminal Minds," she said.

And since the show is about getting deep into devious criminals, season 12 will pick up from the time in which the BAU has caught the 8 of the 13 unsubs who have broken out of prison. Moreover, Frances Fisher has expressed that she would be happy return to the series as Antonia Slade.

"Criminal Minds" season 12 will premiere on CBS every Wednesday, 9pm. It will be starred by Paget Brewster, Matthew Grey Gubler, AJ Cook, and Kirsten Vangsness.