'Criminal Minds' season 12 news, premiere spoilers: Thomas Gibson speaks up on altercation and dismissal; first look at Adam Rodriguez as Luke Alvez

Things will never be the same for "Criminal Minds" as it enters its 12th season since it will be missing key personalities who have given color to the show since 2005.

For the first time in 11 years, fans of "Criminal Minds" will be missing an imposing presence on the show, Thomas Gibson, who plays Supervisory Special Agent Aaron "Hotch" Hotchner. Another familiar face missing from the season 12 premiere is Shemar Moore. In his stead is Adam Rodriguez, who will play Luke Alvez, the Behavioral Analysis Unit's (BAU) newest recruit.

Moore left the show after season 11 in a graceful exit, but Gibson's case was different, as the 54-year-old actor was dismissed from the series following an altercation with writer Virgil Williams over "creative differences." However, Gibson mulled filing a lawsuit, even hiring a top law firm in Los Angeles to represent him.

In a recent interview with People, Gibson opened up about the issue, saying he felt "like it took years to make a good reputation and a minute to damage it." He then went on to describe what happened on set on that fateful day.

"We were shooting a scene late one night when I went to Virgil and told him there was a line that I thought contradicted an earlier line," Gibson said."He said, 'Sorry, it's necessary, and I absolutely have to have it.'"

He said we went back to his co-actors and told them about what happened when Williams burst into the room to go after him.

"If I hadn't moved, he would have run into me. We had some choice words, for which I apologized the next day, and that was it. It was over. We shot the scene, I went home – and I never got to go back."

He was initially suspended but was later on dismissed from the show. To fill up the void, CBS tapped Paget Brewster and Aisha Taylor to reprise their roles, as Emily Prentiss and Dr. Tara Lewis, respectively. Both have been added as series regulars along with Rodriguez.

Meanwhile, two sneak peeks of Luke Alvez (Rodriguez) were shared recently. Luke will be coming in from the Fugitive Task Force to the BAU to help the team capture Mr. Scratch, one of the 13 inmates who escaped prison towards the end of season 11.

One of the sneak peeks for the premiere episode titled "The Crimson King" likewise hints that Luke has a history with the team's next fugitive. Check out the sneak peeks below:

"Criminal Minds" season 12 premieres on Wednesday, Sept. 28, at 9/8c on CBS.