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

[x-forgetromeo.livejournal.com]

MY WHOLE BRAIN IS CRYING

[hani.livejournal.com]

YES!!!!

[x-forgetromeo.livejournal.com]

I'd assume she'd go on being Seaver, who is, you know, not actually meant to be JJ.

[x-forgetromeo.livejournal.com]

I don't know. I'm hoping that they don't drop her, because doing that would basically be furthering the "Oh, female characters / actresses are interchangeable and expendable!" attitude the network has. And also because Seaver has just started to get some great characterization, and I would love to see them build on it.

Rachel is also a sweetheart who fits in perfectly with the cast, so I hope she doesn't get screwed in all of this.

Also...JJ and Seaver bamfing around with guns? Me gusta.

[e-rousset.livejournal.com]

Yes, Yes, Yes !!!!!!! So happy about the news !

[bubblexdreams.livejournal.com]

This is my literal expression rn:



SO HAPPY

[x-forgetromeo.livejournal.com]

I've never really had that issue, and neither have most of the viewers I talk to. I really don't see why they can't both stay on the show.

[mzkitteh.livejournal.com]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


*happy dance*

[staay-classy.livejournal.com]

BEST NEWS EVER.
Now I just hope Paget returns so that this show can go back to how wonderful it was.

[x-forgetromeo.livejournal.com]

Nina Tassler actually came out and said that AJ and Paget were both fired because they wanted to make the show edgier like the spin-off. (If anyone has a link to this please let me know? I read it but don't have it anymore.) And, seeing how the spin-off turned out, well...likely-to-be-cancelled.

[primevalsoup.livejournal.com]

[x-forgetromeo.livejournal.com]

I know, right? The whole situation is ridiculous. I honestly wouldn't have faulted either of them for not wanting to come back after how they were treated, though I'm obviously ecstatic about AJ coming back.

I watched the first CM:SB episode and it was just...ugh.

[autumnsfire.livejournal.com]

They could move her to SB?

I don't know if that one is being renewed or not, but hey.

[cinematicrazor.livejournal.com]

YES <3

[jupisan.livejournal.com]

Hell yeah!!!!!!!!!! :D

[x-forgetromeo.livejournal.com]

I really don't see why she can't just stay on Criminal Minds.

And SB is most likely getting cancelled.

[prussianturtle.livejournal.com]

Awesome news!

[la-loony.livejournal.com]

AWESOME!!!

[spriggina.livejournal.com]

YAY JJ!!!

[wrongcooze.livejournal.com]

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

[ayajedi.livejournal.com]

YAY! I welcome this news. Hopefully I will get to see more Will and Henry too

[sharingcoldfeet.livejournal.com]

I was finally starting to like Seaver. :K Hope she doesn't leave.

BUT Jayje's coming back! And now we can see how she handles the whole Prentiss thing and and and her and Will or her and Reid or her and Hotch and YES!

[infinitlight.livejournal.com]

Go J.J. go!

I hope this indicates a return to form for the show.

[x-forgetromeo.livejournal.com]

Mostly replying to say YAY ELLE ICON. Girl does not get enough love in this fandom!

[hotch-fan.livejournal.com]

OMG! Yay! I was having a pretty bad time right now and this had made me so happy that everything else doesn't matter anymore!

This news just made my weekend!!!