Erica Messer, the longtime Criminal Minds showrunner, recently opened up about what fans can expect in Season 19 following the dramatic Season 18 finale.
In a new interview, she revealed details about a major time jump, the fallout from Elias Voit’s arrest, and how the infamous killer’s return will impact the BAU in unexpected ways.
Erica Messer indicates Criminal Minds Season 19’s time skip and Voit’s Ted Bundy return
Showrunner and executive producer Erica Messer confirms that Criminal Minds Season 19, or Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 4, will feature a one-year time jump and continue the story of Elias Voit, portrayed by Zach Gilford. “You’re going to see him in every episode of Season 19,” Messer told Entertainment Weekly. “He is a prisoner again, but in a very different way than he was in Season 17. He will be a resource for us,” she added.
Voit, once the elusive killer known as Sicarius, ended Season 18 by confessing to his crimes and being sentenced to life in prison. Messer said that he has now become a “household name,” comparing the media attention around him to the frenzy that followed Ted Bundy. “We’ve got Voit in custody now as a celebrity, essentially,” Messer further stated. She confirmed that Voit’s network has been dissolved, and the BAU will not revisit that plotline in Season 19.
The character of Voit will now be grappling with unwanted fame. “The trajectory of that character was that he was off the radar…He literally buried all of his secrets in the ground,” Messer explained, adding, “He’s now like Ted Bundy, and that’s going to get some attention that he wishes he didn’t have.”
Season 19 will shift focus back to the BAU’s traditional weekly cases. In another interview with TVLine, Messer also revealed more character arcs. Luke (Adam Rodriguez) will have a major storyline starting in Episode 2, and Tara (Aisha Tyler) and Rebecca’s relationship will remain stable. “We won’t blow things up between them,” she said.
Messer additionally confirmed the return of recurring characters and hinted at continued emotional development for JJ (A.J. Cook) and other team members following Season 18’s emotionally intense finale. Production on the new season is underway.
Originally reported by Anubhav Chaudhry on ComingSoon.
