The wait is nearly over for fans of CBS' hit drama series, Criminal Minds, as it will be returning for its highly anticipating ninth season at the end of the month.

The eighth installment saw the team finally prevailing against The Replicator, and Gather reported that Hotch will be taking the reigns from Strauss at the start. However, Esai Morales will be coming on board in the third episode as Matt Cruz, a new unit chief that shares a past with JJ, going back to her time away from the FBI in season 6.

The new season is also set to feature an origin story revolving around one of its characters, turning back the clock to the earlier days of the BAU. However, this time around, it will show when Garcia met Hotch during "a present day case where she's up against her old hacker world."

To top off the buzz on Penelope, Messer also stated that "we'll finally meet the guy who owned her heart long before we met her."

CBS' Criminal Minds is set to kick off Season 9 on Wednesday, September 25. Be sure to keep checking back for more of the latest details on the TV series. 

New cast set photos for season 9 here

Tags: Criminal Minds CBS television