Criminal Minds casting news, finally.

[sigrun]

Entertainment Weekly is reporting that Joe Mantegna has been hired to replace Mandy Patinkin on Criminal Minds.

I really liked Joe on Joan of Arcadia so I'm rather optimistic now. I still wish Mandy hadn't left, but the show must go on.

Comments

[thelana]

Will he play Gideon or just a similar role?

You know, I kinda love Gideon and Mandy and he is what drew me into the show in the first place. But honestly, as far as replacements go, this is about as awesome and fitting as you can get.

[sigrun]

As far as I know, they'll be writing Gideon/Mandy out & introducing Joe as a new character taking over the BAU. (Now that they've actually cast someone, I expect more details/spoilers about the change to be released, but right now there isn't too much to go on.)

Mandy was the reason I tuned it at first too. (Well, he & Thomas Gibson.) But I've grown attached to the other characters (especially Reid & Garcia) so, while I wish it wasn't ending this way for Mandy, I'll stick with the show no matter what. :/

[thelana]

Yeah, I really hope that they'll survive this and make it through the cast change.