Criminal Minds: Evolution's Paget Brewster, AJ Cook, And More React To Cancellation

The series Criminal Minds: Evolution has been canceled, marking the end of a franchise that has endured two decades, several cast changes, and even a prior cancellation. Lead stars Paget Brewster and A.J. Cook reacted to the news on social media, with Brewster declaring herself a "free agent" and Cook mourning the loss of her character JJ in a Halloween costume.

Cast member R.J. Hatanaka praised the main cast as "the finest group of people," while Kirsten Vangsness, who appeared in the most episodes, expressed hope that the story could continue in another spin-off. The cancellation leaves open the possibility of a new ending for Season 20, which was reportedly completed before the news broke.

Showrunner Erica Messer expressed surprise at the decision, suggesting she may not have anticipated the end of the chapter. Despite the cancellation, the series remains a hit with Nielsen ranking it among the top 10 most-watched streaming series.