'Criminal Minds' season 12 release date news 2016: Shemar Moore keen on returning to series?

Despite the excitement building up for "Criminal Minds" season 12, which is slated to return to air this September, many feel the upcoming installment would be different especially without Shemar Moore in it.

In the series, Derek Morgan (Moore) decided to leave the Behavioral Analysis Unit after a vexing experience with a deadly kidnapper. It affected Morgan so much that he decided to bid the BAU goodbye so he could focus on his family.

The news of Moore's departure from the show came as a shock to its avid viewers, especially since he was part of the original cast that debuted with show in 2005. However, Moore tried his best to explain his decision to leave "Criminal Minds" after being on the show for 11 years.

"My mother sends me these great cards. ... She gave me this one card and I'm looking at it right now and it says, 'Leap and the net will appear,'" he told TV Guide. "That's what she did her whole life. She thought outside of the box and she never got too comfortable because she wanted to continue to grow. There's been other people in my life who are like that too. I don't want to be ordinary. I don't want to follow. I want to be bold and I want to see what I'm capable of. So yes, it was my decision."

That interview proved he was not axed from the show; it was his decision to leave. However, Moore said he hasn't totally shut his doors on the possibility of returning to the show. Since Erica Messer, the show's executive producer, refused to kill his character off, he can always come back.

"Erica Messer refused to kill Derek Morgan. ... If they ask me to come back and dance, yes, I would be willing to do that. [But] not right away," he said.

Moore said a long-term contract would be out of the question, and in case his character is needed in the story again, he would acquiesce, but not too soon after leaving the show.

Veteran TV actor Adam Rodriguez has since been cast to replace Moore. According to spoilers for the upcoming season, Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler), who was Morgan's closest friend and team member in the BAU, would have a hard time moving on from Morgan's departure and refuse to welcome the new team member into the fold. It remains to be seen how the story would unfold from there.

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