It doesn’t look like it. Criminal Minds had planned to add a new female regular cast member in the wake of the Cook’s departure. That still may be true, but it won’t be Rachel.

The character Nichols will play, FBI cadet Ashley Seager, was originally envisioned as a new regular, but that changed, and Nichols will now appear in three episodes, reports say.

The premise for her arrival? Seager is invited by Hotch (Thomas Gibson) to consult on a case after learning her family history will bring a unique insight into the mind of a serial killer.

It will be interesting to see how the show handles JJ’s exit and who fills the void left by her departure. Will Morgan be developed more, for example, or will a newcomer be cast?

In any case, Cook will be missed. She was terrific in last week’s season premiere, and this evening’s episode, fittingly titled “J.J.,” looks like it will be a powerful one as well.

Source: tvfanatic.com

Nichols edged out other contenders like Cloverfield’s Jessica Lucas and the L Word’s Sarah Shahi.

According to the leaked casting breakdown from last year…

Tamara is 18 to 24 years old, Caucasian or Middle Eastern, open to all ethnicities; beautiful, studious, correct, a novitiate of a Greek influenced monastery. A master of martial arts, she has been trained to be the Queen’s servant, bodyguard and best friend. She and many other female bodyguards to the queen have been in hiding most of their lives because of the curse of Acheron, which would take the queen’s life to bring almost immortal power to its king. When Khalar Singh, a powerful warlord with ambitions to become the king of Acheron, storms the monastery and captures all of the novitiates, she is separated from Ilira, the one she must protect. With all of her strength and will, Tamara is determined to find and rescue her. She finds herself in league with Conan because of a mutual need to find Khalar Singh. She is not in the least intimidated by Conan’s size or grim demeanor and their alliance eventually blossoms into something that surprises them both… LEAD

Source: Latino Review

Rachel Nichols, who appears in the new Star Trek movie, and producer Scott Stuber announced the end of their seven-month marriage.

“Scott Stuber and Rachel Nichols have separated due to irreconcilable differences,” the pair said in a statement Thursday.

Nichols, 29, will appear in two upcoming action films, the J.J. Abrams-directed Star Trek and GI Joe. Stuber, 38, has projects that include the 2008 film Role Models and the upcoming movie The Wolf Man, which stars Benicio Del Toro.