’s absence from season 1 of didn’t sit well with fans — and many are still holding out hope he’ll return for season 2. “It never worked out for Season 16,” showrunner told earlier this month, referring to the first season of , which was the 16th season of overall. , all of which starred Gubler, 44, as Dr.
Spencer Reid. However, when the show was revived as in 2022, he was only one of two main characters who didn’t return. Fans were convinced that Gubler was coming back for Evolution season 2 after , who plays David Rossi, shared a photo via his Instagram Story that showed .
Messer, however, confirmed that the nod to Reid was not an Easter egg about the actor returning for the new season. The photographer was “walking through the BAU [Behavioral Analysis Unit] up to Rossi’s office and held on that nameplate just long enough for it to be a thing,” Messer explained. The showrunner noted that despite their best efforts, .
Messer shared that for a minute the team thought “maybe it could have worked out” for Gubler to star on season 17 — a.k.a.
season 2 of — but the Hollywood strikes in 2023 threw a wrench in that plan. “It hasn’t worked out for Season 17. But we love him.
He loves us,” Messer said. “It’s not any of that. It’s just we’ve got to find a time to make it work.
” Reid’s desk, however, is still on set in case Gubler can fit it into his schedule in future seasons. “But I’m keeping that desk there and I’m keeping that name.
