Paramount+'s Criminal Minds revival Criminal Minds: Evolution is a return home for many of the cast members after the series initially ended with Season 15. Beloved members of the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit have reunited to profile the latest crop of criminals who have networked together after the pandemic. Not every face in Evolution is a familiar one, however. Zach Gilford joins the cast in a brand new role, a heavy task to play on a show that leans into the gritty and gory.
Ahead of the two-episode premiere of Criminal Minds: Evolution, Gilford spoke with CBR about stepping into his new role. He dove into what it was like to join the rest of the Criminal Minds family on set and how his role didn't always get him screentime with the rest of the actors. He also spoke about what it's like to step into a character with a dark side and the secret to getting out of that headspace when leaving the set.
CBR: So you walked into a cast who had worked together for years now. What was it like to join that dynamic on set?
Zach Gilford: It was intimidating in theory, but as soon as I got there, I realized, "Oh, I'm not working with any of these people. They're trying to catch me." I'm always on set by myself or with someone who... which is great. The crew is amazing, but they've all found the time to come in when they're not working and introduce themselves to me. Kirsten [Vangsness] brought me cookies.
Then four of the cast members have directed episodes, so I've gotten to know them very well through that. They're all amazing directors. It's so fun working with actor/directors because some of the notes they give you -- they get it. They've been in these scenes, or they can imagine themselves being in it. It's like back when I worked with Peter Berg. He just kind of gave you better acting notes because he was an actor. When he was watching the scene, directing it, he would have ideas that if he was the actor, he'd want to do this, so they do the exact same thing. It's been just an amazing experience.
That's really great to hear. I know actor/directors can often... They know this stuff, they know this set, [and] they know the series, so they can tap into that energy really well.
Yeah, they definitely know the show better than anyone. So having them in there and understanding how it works and what's the stuff that's important and what's the stuff that's just not is very helpful.
Speaking of your new addition to this series, you've described him as having a dark side. So I'm wondering if you can talk about what it's like to tap into that energy.
I think they've written this character so well that tapping into the dark side energy... Luckily, I'm an actor who's very removed from my work. I'm just kind of doing the lines. Not just doing them -- I'm working hard and doing the character, [laughs] but I don't take it home with me. They've just written it in a way where it's been very easy to kind of fall into it and find this character and let it be a little more about just what... I don't know, I think it's super creepy and dark because the things this character does are so messed up. I think, by the look on his face, he could be playing cards. I mean, that's how detached he is, which is even scarier. At the end of some days, it's a little hard. It's not hard going home, but you got to take a beat to shake it off because you're just like, "Ugh, I was doing gross stuff all day," and then my kids are like, "Hey, Dada, dada!" and the dog wants to go for a walk, and I'm like, "Can I just for one second, please?"
Do you have any secrets for getting out of that headspace? I just talked to Aisha Tyler, who mentioned dog videos were the cure.
Bourbon is the cure for me. [laughs] It's like, just have a stiff drink, and you feel a little bit better.
There you go.
Dog videos -- maybe I'll try that. That sounds healthier.
Who's to say? Before I have to leave, were there any Criminal Minds actors or characters that you didn't get screentime with that you wish you had? I know y'all are still filming -- I heard Episode 9.
Yeah, we're on Episode 9. I still... I mean, it's too much of a spoiler. I mean, I hope to have screen time with all of them, let me put it that way, especially the people who have not directed me because they're all so amazing, and I just want to get to know them. I'd love to work with the people directing me as well, but they're such an amazing group of people. I want to get to know them. So whether that's them directing me or them being in a scene with me, I want the facetime so that I can just get to know who they are.
Catch Criminal Minds: Evolution's two-episode premiere on Nov. 24 on Paramount+.