INQUISITR.COM / Entertainment

‘Criminal Minds’ Season 12 Sees Shemar Moore Return: Star Is ‘Always On Time’

By Alexandria Ingham
Published on: 07:47 PST, Jul 15, 2016

Shemar Moore has returned to Criminal Minds Season 12, with a comment about always being on time. Does that mean he’s reprising his role of Derek Morgan?

Sorry to all those Derek lovers, but he isn’t reprising the role for Season 12. At least, he hasn’t said so. He turned up to the set on the first day of filming to bear gifts for the cast and crew. This is the first year that he hasn’t had to be there when everyone else gathers together for the table read, but he didn’t want them missing him too much.

According to TMZ, the actor turned up on set with the gift of watches. The faces all have his initials and the line “Always on Time,” which is a comment about him always being late to set. He decided he wanted his former co-workers to always have a part of him with them wherever they are.

As for Criminal Minds Season 12, Derek Morgan isn’t going to be in the BAU for the foreseeable future. Moore had decided it was time to take a step back from filming, deciding a year before his departure that he wanted to walk away. Eleven years on the same show is a very long time, and Criminal Minds is no stranger to seeing people leave every now and then.

There had previously been questions about Moore’s attendance at the first table read. A photo shared by co-executive producer Harry Bring showed the actor sitting in attendance with everyone else. It turns out that this was just part of the gift giving process, and he just wanted to feel like a member of the cast again. While he wanted time away from the show, there are no hard feelings between him and any of the others involved in production and filming. Criminal Minds is like a little family.

A comment from showrunner Erica Messer also started rumors that Moore was going to return. She had said that Reid could always count on Derek, which suggested that Reid was going to turn to him at some point. It is possible that Morgan will have left a note or something in Reid’s desk or somewhere else that Reid hasn’t checked yet. There may also be a voicemail message or a phone call.

It wouldn’t be the first time a show has brought an actor back for a small role like this. The Vampire Diaries Season 7 had Nina Dobrev come back to do a voiceover for Elena, even though the actress left at the end of Season 6.

There is a sort of familiar face coming to the show, though. As the Inquisitr previously reported, Adam Rodriguez is taking a turn in the FBI department. He is better known for his role of Eric Delko on CSI: Miami, but has also appeared on Jane the Virgin and Empire. His character will reportedly take over Morgan’s desk, but will he be able to prove himself worthy to the team and to fans?

Rodriguez is playing a former Fugitive Task Force agent who comes onto the BAU team. He will appear in the Criminal Minds Season 12 premiere, and will likely be linked to the way Season 11 left off. The BAU found out that there was a major jailbreak, covering numerous states. All forces will need to work together to put everyone back where they belong.

Criminal Minds Season 12 will start on September 29. While Shemar Moore will not be back, he will definitely not be completely forgotten about on the show.

[Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images]

Share this article: ‘Criminal Minds’ Season 12 Sees Shemar Moore Return: Star Is ‘Always On Time’
More from Inquisitr