Exciting Casting News For Next Season

[x-forgetromeo.livejournal.com]

EXCLUSIVE: JJ fans can rejoice. After a week of negotiations, A.J. Cook just closed a two-year deal to return to CBS' drama Criminal Minds as a regular. She will guest star in the series' sixth season finale on May 18 before re-joining the show full-time in the fall.

Cook departed Criminal Minds after the end of last season when her option was not picked up, stirring outcry among fans of the show. She appeared in the first two episodes of this season to wrap the storyline of her character JJ, who was transferred from the BAU to a job at the Pentagon. Cook then returned for the last episode of the season for co-star Paget Brewster, which aired last month. If Brewster's NBC comedy pilot My Life As An Experiment does not go to series, she will also likely return to Criminal Minds in the fall since series' producer ABC Studios has an option on her. Cook's return to Criminal Minds does not bode well for newly minted regular Rachel Nichols, who was brought in to fill the void left by Cook's departure. Meanwhile, ABC Studios is yet to close new deals with original cast members Thomas Gibson and Shemar Moore for next season, with negotiations continuing.

Cook was offered to return to Criminal Minds late last week after the series' producers recently came up with ideas for JJ for next season. Despite her exit from the show, Cook and her character continued to be extremely popular among Criminal Minds fans. Heading into Season 7, Criminal Minds will be run solely by executive producer Erica Masser following the recent departures of executive producers Ed Bernero and Simon Mirren, who have served as co-showrunners with her this season.

Source

ETA: AJ Cook tweeted and confirmed it!

Comments

[lawless523.livejournal.com]

This part of the fanbase is not smart and observant enough to tell them apart, especially before anyone begins speaking. My husband, who continues to watch, agrees that Rachel Nichols is a generic blonde and it's hard to distinguish her from AJ Cook; in fact, when he saw her, he thought, "AJ's back?" Why make it harder? In promo photos, believe me, I'll have a hard time telling them apart.

[phibatola.livejournal.com]

Fair enough. I think that it will be easier to distinguish between them when the show starts because they will have different roles and different personalities. I believe some people might have trouble telling them appart. Maybe they will have one of them change their hair or something.