All the Intel on ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ Season 3, Including the Shocking Twist

Season 2 (Season 17 overall) of Criminal Minds: Evolution wrapped up the Gold Star storyline, so when the series returns for its third (18th) season, it will get back to the business of catching serial killers, several of who were part of the Sicarius network. So, the season will take a more classic Criminal Mind­s approach of the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) catching unsubs every week but there will also be an overarching aspect for all 10 episodes.

The past two seasons have focused on Rossi and Prentiss, so look for this season to give big stories to J.J. and Tara, but all the series regulars will return. What those stories will be, we don’t know as yet, but here is everything we know to date.

When will Season 3 of Criminal Minds: Evolution be released?

Criminal Minds: Evolution wrapped filming on Dec. 13, so it’s too soon to speculate on the release date for the next season of the series.

Who will return for Season 3 of Criminal Minds: Evolution?

Joe Mantegna as David Rossi

Paget Brewster as Emily Prentiss

A.J. Cook as Jennifer ‘JJ’ Jareau

Kirsten Vangsness as Penelope Garcia

Adam Rodriguez as Luke Alvez

Aisha Tyler as Dr. Tara Lewis

Zach Gilford as Elias Jasper Voit

Ryan-James Hatanaka as Tyler Green

Will Matthew Gray Gubler return for Season 3 of Criminal Minds: Evolution?

Matthew Gray Gubler, who played Dr. Spencer Reid in the first 15 seasons of Criminal Minds will be returning as a guest star on the spinoff Criminal Minds: Evolution.

According to TVLine, Gubler will make a guest appearance in an episode of Season 3 of the series.

Will Felicity Huffman return as Jill Gideon for  Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3?

Messer hasn’t yet revealed whether or not Jill Gideon will be appearing in the third season, or not. Her work on the Gold Star case was wrapped up, but there could be personal references to her.

“Even if we don’t see her maybe Rossi could allude to ‘Jill and I are having dinner.’ or something like that so we can all feel like that story is continuing even if we don’t get to see it,” Messer did tell Parade.

Brian White will return as Vincent Orlov for Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3?

Elias Voit’s shady attorney Vincent Orlov will be back and, hopefully, not get off scott free. “We will want to follow up with him. Let’s just put it that way,” Messer says.

Are there any spoilers for the Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3?

Yes! The shocker for Season 3 is that Voit will be a part of the story. It will turn out that he actually didn’t die from his attack in prison.

“Voit never does anything without thinking it through,” Messer says. “Of course, he wanted to be in Club Fed for a reason and it wasn’t just the fresh air and sunshine. But there are things when you put yourself in an environment like that that are out of your control and, I think, Rossi planted that seed that Voit could be like a lot of other famous killers who went to prison and never got out because others find out who you are, right?”

What is the storyline for Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3?

“Three will feel a little bit more hybrid than Season 2 felt, but there will still be the through line of the Sicarius network and the other serialized arcs would be more character-driven emotional stuff,” Messer says. “Voit will be around, so we’re following up on him, but there will be some more satisfying unsubs of the week. By satisfying meaning the team will have closure at the end of an episode versus this past season where we meet Gold Star and see Gold Star is capable of horrific things and we don’t really stop him truly until Jill Gideon helped in Episode 8. It just kept building on to this guy and we didn’t have him. There was no satisfying conclusion to him … and even then it was a complicated conclusion because you actually feel sorry for him by the time he’s gone.”

What happened in Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 finale?

In the Season 2 Criminal Minds: Evolution finale, the Gold Star saga came to a resolution, Prentiss was kidnapped yet again but was able to talk her way out of it, Dr. Jill Gideon kissed Rossi but it turned out just to be a way to get him to leave her alone, and Voit was attacked and allegedly killed in the prison laundry, while the BAU team celebrated at Garcia’s home.

Will there be a Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 4 (Season 19)?

There’s no official word on that as of yet. But Paget wrote on X on December 13, “We are optimistic we’ll get a season 19. Thank you all for your incredible support over these many years. We want more. More of you with us.”