'Criminal Minds' season 12 release date, cast news 2016: Fan-favorite character returning

Actress Paget Brewster will reprise her well-loved role as SSA Emily Prentiss for an unspecified number of episodes in "Criminal Minds" season 12.

"We're excited to have Paget Brewster back for multiple episodes in our 12th season," Criminal Minds executive producer and showrunner Erica Messer said in a statement.

"The BAU can use more help this year since they've got a lot of known and unknown subjects to catch," she added, without revealing any more details about Brewster's "Criminal Minds" season 12 comeback.

It was not revealed which and how many episodes she will appear or star in. Nevertheless, fans are just savoring the fact that Prentiss will be back in action with the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU).

Prentiss was introduced to "Criminal Minds" fans in season 2 as a series regular. She left after the seventh season, although after that, Brewster made appearances on the show at least twice.

The character's return could not come at a better time as the BAU need more people than ever with more than a dozen of serial killers on the loose following a prison break last season.

Fans have been hoping to see Brewster back on the show. Earlier this year, Messer hinted the possibility that Prentiss will once again find her way back to BAU in "Criminal Minds."

"We like to leave that door open for people to come back and play. Not all the time, of course, but when it's right and [schedules] work out," Messer told TVGuide back in March.

Apart from the return of Brewster, fans should also look forward to the entrance of "Magic Mike" star Adam Rodriguez as a series regular in "Criminal Minds" season 12.

He will play the role of a new special agent by the name of Luis Alves. Fans will meet the BAU newcomer as early as the "Criminal Minds" season 12 premiere airing Wednesday, Sept. 28 on CBS.