'Criminal Minds' season 12 release date, plot spoilers: Executive producer spills season premiere details; Aisha Tyler promoted to series regular

The cliffhanger that was "Criminal Minds'" season 11 finale must surely have its fans sitting at the edge of their seats until now. When the series returns for its twelfth installment, everyone would be in for a thrilling ride, according to the show's executive producer.

To recap, the final episodes of season 11 had the authorities arresting Special Agent Aaron "Hotch" Hotchner on the basis of conspiracy suspicions after 13 convicts managed to escape prison. Among these convicts was Mr. Scratch (Peter Lewis) who, back in season 10, used mind-altering drugs to manipulate Hotch.

The team has been after this elusive bad guy for a while now, and according to executive producer Erica Messer, Mr. Scratch remains to be season 12's big bad. Nevertheless, according to Cinema Blend, a time jump between the recent and upcoming seasons would see the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) regaining custody of eight unsubs. Still, five would still be at large, including Mr. Scratch.

"There are still five out there when we come into the premiere," Messer told Entertainment Weekly. As per Messer, one of these would be Peter Lewis a.k.a. Mr. Scratch (played by Bohdi Elfman. "He is our baddie for the year. We will stretch him out and tell his creepy tales."

Messer likewise hinted via EW that the BAU would play a dangerous game of hide and seek with these escaped convicts. This is probably why Paget Brewster would be back to reprise her role as Interpol Agent Emily Prentiss.

The BAU team needs all the help it can get considering they are minus one agent now with Derek Morgan's (Shemar Moore) exit. His departure has apparently paved the way for BAU to enlist the help of an FBI fugitive Task Force agent in the person of Luke Alvez, who will be played by "Magic Mike's" Adam Rodriguez.

Rodriguez has been tapped as a series regular, a direct replacement for Moore, while Brewster has been booked to appear in multiple episodes. Aside from the two, another character who played a recurring role on "Criminal Minds" has been promoted to series regular.

TV Line has reported that Aisha Tyler, who plays Dr. Tara Lewis in the series, will now be seen on the series starting September. Tyler first appeared on the procedural crime drama in season 11's premiere episode to cover for Jennifer Love Hewitt (who played Kate Callahan) and A.J. Cook's (who plays Jennifer "J.J." Jareau) absence.

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