Those of us who are speculating on Alex O’Loughlin’s next project will find it interesting to know that casting descriptions were recently released for one of the shows on the list of several possibles! We’re already aware that CBS has ordered a pilot for the Criminal Minds spin-off — remember, the apparent intent is to introduce the new show in an episode of the existing one in the spring of 2010 — and Spoiler TV recently published some more details about the characters involved.

The pilot is expected to be shot between February 16th and March 5th.

[COOPER] 45-50, all ethnicities. The team leader, he’s fierce in his loyalty and mysterious in his daily life. A former star profiler in the BAU, he’s been off the radar for the last eight years – leaving only a trail of rumors and legend in his wake. He runs a team that exists outside of FBI bureaucracy and is intensely loyal to him.

[GINA] 28-32, all ethnicities. She’s strong, intelligent. Raised in a tough neighborhood in Baltimore, she managed to avoid the streets. Got straight-A’s. Was the first person in her family to ever go to college. Recruited from school to the FBI, she finished at the top of her class at Quantico but was destined to work deep cover in the same streets she’d managed to escape. Her father died before he could learn that she hadn’t wasted her life. After she quit the FBI, Cooper talked her back by inviting her onto his team.

[MICK] 30, all ethnicities. Formerly of the British Special Forces, though he was discharged for reasons that remain classified. Expert sniper. Survivalist. He was educated at Cambridge but his demeanor is more charmingly rakish than posh. He’s as adept verbally as he is physically and he knows it. Part puppy, part guard dog.

[PROPHET] 30s, African American. A former gang-banger from L.A. He did seven years in prison for drug trafficking but found Jesus in jail. He’s street-smart, connected but also incredibly dexterous at quoting scripture. He feels this unit is his chance at redemption – a way to direct his street skills toward a noble end.

The cast of Criminal Minds shared their thoughts on a possible spin-off recently with TV Guide (issue November 16-22):

Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but in the case of the Criminal Minds spin-off — due to premiere on CBS this spring — it’s also triggered some professional envy. “We’re not jumping up and down for it,” admits Minds’ A.J. Cook (Jennifer Jareau). “We’re a little jealous. It’s typical actor behavior: ‘Look at me!’” Minds producer Chris Mundy is currently crafting an outline for the spin-off slated for a February shoot, but no cast has yet been named. “We feel a little threatened,” Cook adds. “Are they going to take some stories away from us? We don’t want them to put their energy on anyone but us.”

Minds star Thomas Gibson (Arron Hotchner) is baffled by the premise of the spin-off. The original show is based on the idea that there is only one BAU unit in the FBI. “I was operating under the impression that we were the only ones,” he says. “We were it — that’s what made us special.” But a spin-off suggests that another BAU unit exists. “Most of the time I think spin-offs are a crass grab at capitalizing on something that’s worked,” Gibson says. “But occasionally they’ve been great… Best of luck.” — Lisa Berhard

[tags]alex o’loughlin, alex o’lachlan, criminal minds spinoff, cbs[/tags]