Evolution' ending after 20 seasons as cast breaks silence over abrupt cancellation

Key Points:

• "Criminal Minds: Evolution" will conclude after 20 seasons, with its final episodes scheduled to air in 2027 on Paramount+, surprising many cast members who learned about the ending shortly before the announcement.
• The final season will feature returning main cast members including Joe Mantegna, AJ Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Aisha Tyler, RJ Hatanaka, Adam Rodriguez, and Paget Brewster.
• Kirsten Vangsness, who has played Penelope Garcia throughout the series, expressed mixed emotions about the cancellation but remains hopeful for future storytelling opportunities, describing the show's end as a "death and rebirth cycle."
• Cast members shared heartfelt messages on social media, emphasizing their close bonds and the show's significant impact, with AJ Cook and Aisha Tyler highlighting the series' enduring legacy and fan support.
• "Criminal Minds" originally premiered in 2005 on CBS, focusing on FBI profilers in the Behavioral Analysis Unit, and after its initial end in 2020, it was revived on Paramount+ in 2022; the franchise also included two short-lived spinoffs in 2011 and 2016-2017.