Criminal Minds: Evolution showrunner and executive producer Erica Messer confirms that a TV legend has joined season 4. In the finale of Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3, the BAU seemingly bids farewell to Zach Gilford’s Elias Voit and looks ahead to what’s next. For arguably the first time in the Paramount+ revival’s history, there isn’t a massive cliffhanger to address.
The path for Criminal Minds: Evolution season 4 may be a little clearer now, as Messer confirms to TVLine that veteran actress Jeri Ryan has joined the show. Although exact details about who Ryan will be playing are not known, Messer talks in the quote below about how Ryan’s iconic Star Trek connects her to the Paramount+ crime drama:
“Jeri had worked with the director of the premiere, Doug Aarniokoski, for years on Star Trek, so they’ve known one another. … But yeah, Jeri is amazing.”
What This Means For Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 4
Is Ryan A Friend Or Foe?
Ryan is best known for her role as Seven of Nine in the Star Trek franchise, playing the role most prominently in Star Trek: Voyager from 1997 to 2001. She would also reprise the role for Star Trek: Picard, winning two Saturn Awards for her performance. However, the actress has appeared across genres and popped up in different series throughout her three-decade career.
With television credits that include memorable stints on Boston Public, Leverage, The OC, Bosch, and a recent run on the moody drama Dark Winds, Ryan is a formidable addition to the returning BAU. Joe Mantegna, A. J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Aisha Tyler, RJ Hatanaka, Adam Rodriguez, and Paget Brewster are all expected to reprise their roles in the upcoming season.
| Jeri Ryan’s Notable Television Roles | |
|---|---|
| TV Show | Ryan’s Character |
| Star Trek: Picard (2020-2023) | Seven of Nine |
| Bosch (2016-2019) | Veronica Allen |
| Body of Proof (2011-2013) | Kate Murphy |
| Shark (2006-2008) | Jessica Devlin |
| Boston Public (2001-2004) | Ronnie Cooke |
| Star Trek: Voyager (1997-2004) | Seven of Nine |
They could have a formidable foe waiting for them. Criminal Minds: Evolution‘s cast has so far done a great job of welcoming new faces to the fold and making them feel like part of the group from the start. This was the case with Lucifer‘s Aimee Garcia, as the doctor treating Voit, who quickly fell into a rhythm of teasing the BAU and calling out their flaws.
Our Cast On The Criminal Minds Casting
Let’s Hope Some Favorites Return
The addition of Ryan is an immediate level up to Criminal Minds: Evolution season 4, which is expected to debut sometime next year. But hopefully, there will be some room to bring back someone like Aimee Garcia’s Dr. Julia Ochoa for another tense round.
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Criminal Minds
8/10
Release Date
September 22, 2005
Showrunner
Erica Messer
DirectorsFélix Enríquez Alcalá, Rob Bailey, Matthew Gray Gubler, Joe Mantegna, John Gallagher, Douglas Aarniokoski, Guy Norman Bee, Larry Teng, Nelson McCormick, Alec Smight, Charles S. Carroll, Rob Spera, Charles Haid, Diana Valentine, Rob Hardy, Tawnia McKiernan, Bethany Rooney, Karen Gaviola, Sharat Raju, Thomas Gibson, Aisha Tyler, Anna Foerster, Gloria Muzio, John Terlesky
Writers
Bruce Zimmerman, Virgil Williams, Edward Allen Bernero, Janine Sherman Barrois, Chris Mundy, Simon Mirren, Debra J. Fisher, Kimberly A. Harrison, Jay Beattie, Dan Dworkin, Karen Maser, Oanh Ly, Stephanie Sengupta, Aaron Zelman, Kirsten Vangsness, Erica Meredith, Andi Bushell, Holly Harold, Alicia Kirk, Jeff Davis, Randy Huggins, Edward Napier, Jayne A. Archer, Chikodili Agwuna
Kirsten Vangsness
Penelope Garcia
Matthew Gray Gubler
Dr. Spencer Reid
