"Criminal Minds" Season 12 release date will finally arrive in a week's time. Now, the question that seems to occupy every fan's mind is how the show will fare without Thomas Gibson as Aaron Hotchner.
For those who have not been updated in the latest "Criminal Minds" Season 12 cast news, it has already been confirmed that actor Thomas Gibson will be out of the series, as previously reported by GamenGuide. The decision to fire Gibson resulted after he had an on-set brawl with Virgil Williams, the series' writer and producer.
Thomas Gibson To Still Appear In 'Criminal Minds' Season 12
However, fans may still expect Thomas Gibson as Aaron Hotchner with the arrival of the "Criminal Minds" Season 12 release date. Apparently, the actor had already filmed some scenes before the incident and reports say that Gibson will still be present in two episodes of the coming season.
What Happens To The Series Without Thomas Gibson?
As head of FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) Aaron Hotchner, "Criminal Minds" Season 12 actor Thomas Gibson is one of the pillars of the series and has been around since the pilot episode aired back in 2005. In fact, Gibson's departure is not very well-received by long-time fans of the series, with some saying that it was only Gibson who made the show somehow realistic.
For now, the network is yet to officially announce who will take over Aaron Hotchner's post in the Behavioral Analysis Unit when "Criminal Minds" Season 12 release date comes. But according to speculations, the unit couldl be headed by a female.
Paget Brewster's Emily Prentiss To Take Over BAU?
Recently, actress Paget Brewster has been confirmed to rejoin the "Criminal Minds" Season 12 cast. Now, speculations abound that Brewster's character Emily Prentiss could head the BAU unit head position which will be left vacant when Thomas Gibson eventually departs from the series in next season's storyline.
According to IB Times, it is highly likely that Paget Brewster's Emily Prentiss will take over the helm of BAU. This seems to be reinforced by another "Criminal Minds" Season 12 cast member Kristen Vangness who commented "It's great that she is back!... It makes a lot of sense that she is now the head of the team," which could refer to the BAU team.
How Will Aaron Hotchner Be Eased Out Of The 'Criminal Minds' Season 12 Storyline?
Now comes the speculation on how Thomas Gibson's character Aaron Hotchner will make his exit when "Criminal Minds" Season 12 release date comes. There are a lot of possibilities being presented such as these four ways thought of by IBT.
First is the possibility that writers could tell the story that Hotchner will opt to look for a different career. Another way to get the deed done is the old-fashioned but effective way of killing the character while in the line of duty. A third route is for Hotch to just take a lengthy break and lastly, Hotch could get suspended. Unfortunately, no one from the "Criminal Minds" Season 12 cast and crew is offering any clue on how the character will be eased out of the series at the moment.
'Criminal Minds' Season 12 Air Date
Fortunately, it won't be a long wait for the "Criminal Minds" Season 12 premiere. Fans will soon have a dose of their favorite police procedural drama when "Criminal Minds" Season 12 release date arrives on September 28, on CBS. Stay tuned to GamenGuide for updates.
