'Criminal Minds' season 10: Jennifer Love Hewitt joins cast, guest stars revealed

Agent Kate Callahan (Jennifer Love Hewitt) joins BAU in Criminal Minds 10.Facebook

Jennifer Love Hewitt debuts as the latest BAU recruit on the pilot episode of "Criminal Minds" Season 10 next week.

The actress/singer will portray the role of Kate Callahan in the hit U.S. police procedural drama created by Jeff Davis.

In a report by Digital Spy, Hewitt will step into the spot left by actress Jeanne Tripplehorn, who played the role of Dr. Alex Blake. According to the show's executive producer Erica Messer, Dr. Blake will be retiring from the FBI after landing a job as a full-time professor. Messer also expressed her excitement over Hewitt's addition to the show.

She said, "We're thrilled to introduce a new special agent by adding the very talented Jennifer Love Hewitt to our amazing cast."

The showrunner also added, "Many of us on the show have enjoyed working with her over the years and look forward to again. We have exciting storylines planned for her character and the entire BAU team as we head into our 10th season."

Entertainment Weekly described Hewitt's character as an experienced undercover agent who was hired to fill in the vacant post left by Blake in the Behavioral Analysis Unit.

"Her background is criminal psychology, and her passion comes from wanting to make the world a safe place. She's had a lot of personal loss that makes her a patriot and a nurturing figure to those in her personal and work families," Messer added.

Aside from Hewitt, "Criminal Minds" will also have several guest stars this season. One of them is "Dawson's Creek" alum Kerr Smith, who will portray the role of a mad killer who has an obsession with collecting human limbs. Also, actress Alicia Coppola from "Jericho" will appear in the fourth episode as the head of an advocate group who will do everything to protect the privacy of all its members.

"Criminal Minds" Season 10 will air on CBS starting Wednesday, Oct. 10.