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Long-running CBS procedural “Criminal Minds’ will end with a 10-episode fifteenth and final season.
The series, which is currently filming the finale of its 15-episode 14th season, will remain in continuous production, shooting the 10 additional episodes right after to air during the 2019-20 broadcast season.
“Criminal Minds” matches “E.R” and “CSI” by chalking up 15 seasons.
“It is the quintessential CBS hit. We are so proud to have aired it,” said Amy Reisenbach, CBS’ EVP current programs, in a statement to Deadline. “It speaks to everything we do best, which is air quality television. It’s been successful not only on air but online, in syndication, internationally for ABC (Studios).”
The season 14 finale was briefly considered to be a series finale but CBS, ABC Studios and CBS TV Studios, got together and decided to extend the series to give it a proper ending.
The final 10 episodes will see the team go up against a formidable villain, with a surprise guest star to be announced.
There’s hope that the show may bring back original players Mandy Patinkin, Thomas Gibson, Shemar Moore and Thomas Gibson.
“I am very hopeful that we can honor all of those characters who have been beloved and with this team, with the audience for years, but I don’t know what that’s going to look like; I don’t know the logistics of anything or the story. That won’t be shooting until the spring, so I have some time to think about it, but the hope is to be able to honor all of that history, all of those heroes who have come and gone.”
Executive producer/showrunner Erica Messer says, “We’re sad that it’s over, but also thankful that it happened.”
