Erica Messer, executive producer for the show, confirmed earlier this year that Jennifer Love Hewitt would not be reprising her role as FBI agent Kate Callahan, as she is pregnant and has decided to take some time off to look after her newborn.
AJ Cook is also pregnant, and she will be on maternity leave for the first few episodes of season 11, although she will be returning to her role at some point during the season. However, there will be some gaps to fill for at least a few episodes, but thankfully it looks like the producers have already been thinking about that.
They have apparently cast Aisha Tyler as the latest member of the Behavioral Analysis Unit team, and she will be filling the void left behind by Hewitt and Cook.
She will have the role of Dr. Tara Lewis, a forensic psychologist who Aaron Hotchner has determined to be the most fitting candidate for replacing Kate Callahan, now that her position has been opened up. Aisha Tyler has quite the fan following already, and many people seem to be excited to see her joining the cast of the show, so it’s going to be an interesting season for sure.