'Criminal Minds' season 12 air date, cast news 2016: New character to replace Hochtner as team leader

Thomas Gibson will no longer be part of "Criminal Minds" season 12 following his controversial dismissal. Although the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) will never be the same without Aaron Hotchner, it will by no means be smaller.

The unit is left with no leader with Gibson's character out, but it won't be for long. Two new cast members are being added, one of whom will replace him, according to a new report by TVLine.

Details about the casting are not available this moment, but it appears that there will be a lot of new faces in "Criminal Minds" season 12.

BuddyTV says that promoting Rossi (Joe Mantegna) as the new team leader would have made sense as he was on the team long enough to make himself qualified.

Gibson was fired from the show after he reportedly kicked a producer. In the past, the actor has also engaged in an altercation with an assistant director of "Criminal Minds." He was urged to attend anger management classes but was not fired.

"I love Criminal Minds and have put my heart and soul into it for the last 12 years... I had hoped to see it through to the end, but that won't be possible now," Gibson said in a statement addressing the issue.

Before Gibson was fired, "Criminal Minds" season 12 was in the middle of a transition following the exit of fan-favorite Shemar Moore.

Apart from the two other newcomers, "Criminal Minds" season 12 also brings Adam Rodriguez as Alvez. Paget Brewster will also return as Prentiss for multiple episodes while Aisha Tyler was promoted to series regular as Dr. Tara Lewis.

All of them will be of help in bringing the criminals that freed themselves following the prison break that took place in the previous season.

"Criminal Minds" season 12 premieres Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 9 p.m. EDT on CBS.