Gary Sinise returns to TV this week in a new episode of "Criminal Minds" that will act as a backdoor pilot for a potential spinoff.
The episode titled "Beyond Borders" (the likely suffix of the spinoff) will introduce Sinise's character Jack Garrett, a 20-year veteran of the FBI. His team, which includes "Breaking Bad" star Anna Gunn, handles cases involving Americans overseas and joins forces with the Behavior Analysis Unit to track down a family kidnapped while vacationing in Barbados.
The Oscar-nominated Sinise took a two-year acting hiatus (except for some voice work) after starring on CBS's "CSI: NY" for nine seasons. The Emmy-winning Gunn starred on the short-lived "Gracepoint," Fox's remake of the BBC hit-series "Broadchurch," this past fall.
Gunn will play the International Unit's law expert Lily Lambert. The spinoff will also introduce Daniel Henney as Special Ops Agent Matthew Simmons and Tyler James Williams as International Unit tech guru Russ "Monty" Montgomery.
"Beyond Borders" is the second attempt to spinoff a show from "Criminal Minds." The first time was with Forest Whitaker in 2011's "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior," which failed to garner a second season.
"Criminal Minds" star Joe Mantegna and Sinise annually co-host the National Memorial Day Concert.
"Criminals Minds" airs on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on CBS.
Watch the promo for this week's episode below.
