The Real Reason Behind Shemar Moore's Shocking Exit from Criminal Minds Season 11

Morgan, a beloved character on Criminal Minds, departed the show during season 11, much to the dismay of fans. Alongside NCIS, Criminal Minds was a highly popular procedural series that ran until 2020. One of the main reasons for its success was the presence of Shemar Moore portraying Derek Morgan. Morgan played a crucial role as a member of the BAU and even held the position of acting unit chief for a brief period. As a result, his departure in that particular season came as a tremendous shock to viewers.

Originally, Mandy Patinkin played the lead role of Jason Gideon for the first two seasons of Criminal Minds. However, Patinkin abruptly quit just as production was gearing up for season 3. The show managed to overcome Gideon's unexpected departure, but its replacement lead, Thomas Gibson, was fired during season 12. While the series managed to survive these changes, losing Shemar Moore's portrayal of Derek Morgan proved to be the most difficult blow, as he had become the heart and soul of the immensely popular show. Moore decided to leave Criminal Minds due to his personal belief that it was time to explore new opportunities.

Why Derek Morgan Actor Shemar Moore Left Criminal Minds

The actor's decision led to Morgan's departure from Criminal Minds. Since the show's beginning, Derek Morgan had been a vital part of its success. He underwent a transformation, shifting from a cheerful character to a more experienced and battle-worn individual over the years. Additionally, he overcame a traumatic past, witnessing his father's tragic death as a child. Season 11 presented him with challenging circumstances. In the episode "Derek," Morgan, portrayed by Shemar Moore, endures horrifying torture but eventually escapes and eliminates his captors. Merely two episodes later, in "A Beautiful Disaster," Morgan's pregnant wife Savannah gets shot. After assisting in the capture of the perpetrator and the subsequent birth of their son Hank - honoring Morgan's late father - the special agent bids farewell to the team and resigns from the BAU. Unlike other surprising character departures on Criminal Minds, there were no conflicts or issues backstage relating to Morgan's exit.

The actor simply decided that it was time to leave after eleven seasons. Exploring every facet of Morgan as a character and wanting to pursue other projects, he felt the need to move on. With Criminal Minds being a ten-month commitment every season, there was little time left for other movie or show opportunities. Shemar Moore wanted to free up time to focus on his personal life as well. Nonetheless, Derek Morgan made a comeback for a few episodes in later seasons.

What Shemar Moore Has Done Since Criminal Minds

Continuing his trajectory in law enforcement roles following his portrayal of Derek Morgan, Shemar Moore currently stars as Sergeant Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson in the action-packed CBS series S.W.A.T. This initially seemed like the end of the road when the show was canceled by CBS. However, Moore took a stand and successfully persuaded CBS to revive the series for one more season. This was a thrilling turn of events for Moore, as his character in S.W.A.T. closely resembles his previous role in Criminal Minds. He embodies a dynamic law enforcement officer who goes to great lengths to safeguard lives and apprehend criminals, making the transition from one show to the next a more seamless experience than anticipated by some fans following Derek Morgan's departure from Criminal Minds, driven by his desire for change.

Since leaving his well-known role on Criminal Minds in season 11, which was less controversial compared to Thomas Gibson's departure, Moore has expanded his career in voice acting. He has notably portrayed Victor Stone, also known as Cyborg, in various animated direct-to-video movies from DC, including The Death of Superman and Justice League Dark: Apokolips War. Additionally, Moore has secured roles in movies, with his notable role being FBI agent Randall Handel in Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

Furthermore, Moore has reprised his character Malcolm Winters in multiple episodes of the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless. This was a significant development as Moore originally portrayed Malcolm on the show for over a decade, from 1994 to 2005. His return for the series' 50th anniversary created excitement among both his fans and loyal followers of Criminal Minds. Given Moore's willingness to make a special appearance on the daytime soap opera, it suggests that he would also consider doing the same for Criminal Minds.

Every Time Shemar Moore's Derek Returned After Criminal Minds Season 11

Derek Morgan departs from the BAU in season 11 of Criminal Minds without being killed off, leaving the possibility for occasional reappearances or a full return to the show. True to this, Shemar Moore has made multiple cameo appearances after leaving the regular cast. In season 12, he makes a visit to the team in the episode "Red Light," providing support to Reid during his time in prison and helping Garcia connect with Alvez, his replacement and later love interest.

Morgan's appearance in season 13, specifically in the episode "Lucky Strikes," sees him providing emotional support to Garcia once again, this time during a particularly distressing case. Additionally, it is revealed in the episode "The Dance of Love" that Morgan has settled down, gotten married, and now has children. While Morgan has some brief appearances in flashbacks and dream sequences in seasons 14 and 15, he does not physically visit the BAU again. Although the possibility of his return in season 16 remains unanswered, as Morgan is still alive, there is no reason why Shemar Moore cannot make another cameo appearance.

Will Shemar Moore Cameo In Criminal Minds: Evolution?

There was significant uproar regarding the absence of Matthew Gray Gubler's character, Spencer Reid, on the show Criminal Minds: Evolution. However, some people questioned whether the character Derek Morgan, played by Shemar Moore, should also have been included. Presently, Shemar Moore is starring in the series S.W.A.T. where he plays the lead role of Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson, a S.W.A.T. Sergeant who, alongside his team, solves crimes in Los Angeles. Moore recently participated in a video interview with EW, during which they inquired about his potential return to Criminal Minds: Evolution. Unfortunately, Moore's responses were not very optimistic.

"When it comes to going back to 'Criminal Minds' and reuniting with my beloved colleagues and chasing after criminals, sure, why not? However, Hondo has a lot on his plate at the moment, that's all I can say."

{{h1_placeholder_4}: However, there is still a possibility for Gubler and Moore to make a return, as the showrunners have left the door open. Nevertheless, there is no guarantee that they will actually come back. Moore's response is quite disheartening, especially considering that S.W.A.T. was in its sixth season at that time. Given these circumstances, it seemed highly unlikely that Shemar Moore's character, Derek Morgan, would make an appearance in Criminal Minds again. Fortunately, the reason for his absence stemmed from scheduling conflicts rather than the actor refusing to reprise his role.}

In an early 2023 revelation, CBS made a significant announcement regarding the lineup of returning shows for the 2023-24 season. Unfortunately, S.W.A.T. was not included in that list, leaving fans disheartened. However, Shemar Moore, the star of the show, took matters into his own hands and fervently rallied fans to voice their support and fight for the continuation of the series. In a surprising turn of events, CBS decided to reverse their decision to cancel S.W.A.T. and granted it a seventh and final season. This concluding season will consist of a shorter run of only 13 episodes, effectively marking the end of the series. Meanwhile, the revival of S.W.A.T. brings a glimmer of hope for the potential return of Derek Morgan in Criminal Minds.

Moore's return to The Young and the Restless showcased the unpredictability of surprising comebacks. Paramount+ has renewed Criminal Minds: Evolution for another season in 2023, although it is unlikely that Derek will be returning for this upcoming season alongside S.W.A.T. However, if the revived Criminal Minds continues to garner popularity, there is now a higher possibility that Derek Morgan, who left the show due to Moore's desire for change, may make a final return in order to fulfill fan expectations.