In an interview with Collider, Zach Gilford, who plays reformed serial killer Elias Voit on Criminal Minds: Evolution, discussed his character's dramatic arc and confirmed that Voit will not appear in Season 20, though he left the door open to a possible future return. The Season 19 finale saw Voit clash directly with the season's antagonist, "The Fan" (Justin Kirk), as his desperate attempt to protect his daughter raised fears he might repeat his own violent past.

Voit, once the leader of a network of killers, has spent the series trying to atone for his crimes by aiding the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit. Gilford also spoke about directing Kirk in an episode, developing the tense on-screen dynamic between the two characters, and filming physically demanding stunt sequences for the finale.