Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Update Teases Why Will Is Absent

Summary Josh Stewart, who plays Will LaMontagne Jr., has exited the cast of Criminal Minds: Evolution ahead of season 2.

An update from TVLine offers insight into the show's explanation for Will's absence, which is that he's "busy with work."

Stewart's departure, which was announced in early 2024, has not been officially explained.

Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2's explanation for Will's absence has been revealed. The flagship crime procedural show was rebranded as Evolution when it transitioned to Paramount+ in 2022 with much of the main cast intact after being cancelled by CBS. Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2, which is the seventeenth season of the show overall, will feature the return of many of those actors, including Paget Brewster, Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, and Aisha Tyler, though notable recurring character Will LaMontagne Jr. (Josh Taylor) - the husband of Cook's JJ Jareau - will not be returning.

During TVLine's latest "Inside Line" feature, Matt Webb Mitovich was asked about how Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2 handled the departure of Will. Mitovich was able to offer some insight into the show's explanation as he has revealed that he has access to screeners for the new season. According to him, the go-to explanation for Stewart's absence is the fact that Will is "busy with work." Though season 1 revealed that the character had cancer, they do not seem to have killed him off. Read Mitovich's full quote below:

I am a couple of episodes into the new season, and thus far Will has been… busy with work.

Josh Stewart's Criminal Minds: Evolution Explained

The Star Announced His Departure In Early 2024

Will's absence from the Criminal Minds: Evolution cast leaves a huge hole in the narrative of the show. As the husband of one of the show's lead characters and the father of her children, his position in her life has been quite important throughout the run of the show. His role continued to grow over the years, and in fact, of the 27 total episodes of the show in which he appeared, nine of them were from Evolution season 1.

Josh Stewart first appeared as Will on Criminal Minds season 2, episode 18, "Jones," which aired in 2007.

While the reason for his departure has not been officially announced, in January, Stewart revealed on X that he would not be returning, saying to the fans that "you guys have been the absolute best." This statement was corroborated by his absence from the Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2 trailer. In the meantime, Stewart took on a major role as Wallace in the Apple TV+ historical miniseries Manhunt. He is also set to appear opposite Luke Benward in the upcoming thriller movie Lifeline.

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It remains to be seen if Josh Stewart ever returns to Criminal Minds: Evolution to reprise his original role, even as a guest star on a single episode or a short arc. However, if he elects not to come back to the show at any point, it seems likely that his character will eventually be mentioned less as new episodes continue to be produced. Although his absence needs to be referenced in the first few episodes of this season, as the cast settles into a new status quo, the writers may expect viewers to eventually question that absence less often.

Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2 premieres on Paramount+ on June 6.

Source: TVLine