Matthew Gray Gubler, who played Dr. Spencer Reid on Criminal Minds, expressed his interest in returning to the series in a recent interview. Gubler couldn't participate in the show's 16th season due to scheduling conflicts but hopes to reprise his role soon. In the latest season, the character of Spencer wasn't physically present but his activities were hinted at through classified missions.

The season finale leaves the door open for his return as an unseen figure enters a room to speak with a suspect. Criminal Minds: Evolution, which premiered in November 2022, follows the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit as they track down a global network of serial killers in a post-pandemic world. Gubler has been involved in other projects since the end of Criminal Minds, including a recurring role in Hulu's Dollface and releasing his second book. The new season of Criminal Minds is available for streaming on Paramount+.