Paget Brewster will reprise her role of Supervisory Special Agent Emily Prentiss for the upcoming seventh season of ‘Criminal Minds,’ Deadline is reporting. Emily, who replaced actress Lola Glaudini’s Elle Greenaway in the second season, reportedly died this year. She was replaced by new series regular FBI Cadet Agent-turned-Special Agent Ashley Seaver, played by Rachel Nichols. As a result, the ‘Conan the Barbarian’ star won’t be returning to the police procedural show next season.
The news comes after CBS and ‘Criminal Minds’ producer ABC Studios made a deal with Brewster to appear in fewer episodes during the sixth season. As compensation, Brewster was able to shoot the pilot for the NBC comedy ‘My Life as an Experiment.’ Since the show didn’t make it to series, the actress had the option to return to the CBS drama. She exercised that right, and will be appearing alongside another returning ‘Criminal Minds’ fan favorite character, Jennifer ‘JJ’ Jareau. The SSA Media Liaison, played by original series actress A.J. Cook, also left during the show’s sixth season. JJ was promoted to the Pentagon, and Cook presumably left the series due to the network’s budget cuts.
The news of Brewster’s return also comes as another series original cast member, Thomas Gibson, who plays FBI Unit Chief Aaron Hotcner, is still negotiating a deal for the seventh season. ‘Criminal Minds’ producers reportedly want him back, as he received a warm reception by international buyers at the L.A. Screenings.
Written by: Karen Benardello
