Josh Stewart Breaks Silence on Leaving Criminal Minds and Joining Dutton Ranch: “I Would Have Played Will Forever”

Fans of Criminal Minds were stunned when longtime fan-favorite character Will LaMontagne Jr. was suddenly killed off after nearly two decades on the show. Now, actor Josh Stewart is finally opening up about the emotional exit that shocked viewers — while also embracing a dramatic new chapter inside the growing universe of Dutton Ranch.

In a candid new interview, Stewart admitted he never expected his Criminal Minds journey to end the way it did and revealed he would have happily continued playing Will “forever.” At the same time, the actor says stepping into the gritty world created by Taylor Sheridan has opened an entirely new creative door for him.

The transition from beloved FBI family man to mysterious Texas sheriff has left fans fascinated — especially because Stewart’s new character already sounds far more dangerous than the gentle, dependable Will LaMontagne audiences had grown attached to over the years.

A Sudden Goodbye That Shocked Criminal Minds Fans

For longtime viewers of Criminal Minds, Josh Stewart’s character Will LaMontagne Jr. had become one of the emotional anchors of the series.

Introduced back in 2007, Will quickly became a fan favorite thanks to his grounded personality, Southern charm, and deeply emotional relationship with Paget Brewster’s character Emily Prentiss. Over the years, audiences watched him evolve from a recurring New Orleans detective into an important emotional figure inside the broader Criminal Minds universe.

That is why fans reacted so strongly when Stewart announced in 2024 that he would not be returning for future seasons.

Then came the devastating storyline in 2025.

Will’s sudden death — which occurred after his character collapsed following a headache — blindsided many viewers who had assumed the character would continue appearing periodically for years to come.

Now, Stewart says he was equally surprised.

“I would have played Will and popped in and out of that show forever,” he admitted. “I love playing that dude.”

For fans still upset about the loss, hearing Stewart speak so warmly about the role only reinforced how emotionally connected both actor and audience had become to the character over nearly two decades.

“It’s Business”: Stewart Reflects On The Character’s Death

Despite the disappointment surrounding Will’s exit, Stewart appeared calm and realistic when discussing how the decision unfolded behind the scenes.

“It’s business,” he explained simply. “That is the way it goes.”

The comment reflects the unpredictable nature of long-running television series, where even beloved characters can suddenly disappear due to creative changes, scheduling issues, or evolving storylines.

Still, many fans continue debating whether killing off Will was truly necessary.

Unlike many Criminal Minds characters who left dramatically due to investigations or danger, Will’s death felt unusually personal and emotionally raw. The character had become associated with stability, warmth, and family life within the otherwise dark world of serial killer investigations.

For many viewers, his death represented not just the loss of a character, but the loss of one of the show’s few emotional safe spaces.

That emotional connection is part of why Stewart’s move to Dutton Ranch has attracted so much attention.

Entering The Brutal World Of Dutton Ranch

Now, Stewart is trading FBI investigations for ranch wars and South Texas tension as he joins Dutton Ranch, the latest expansion of the hugely successful Yellowstone universe.

The series follows Cole Hauser’s Rip Wheeler and Kelly Reilly’s Beth Dutton as they attempt to build a new life in Texas after leaving Montana behind.

But as expected inside Taylor Sheridan’s universe, peace does not last long.

The show’s official synopsis hints at violent rivalries, dangerous enemies, and the harsh realities of survival in South Texas.

“As Beth and Rip fight to build a future together — far from the ghosts of Yellowstone — they collide with brutal new realities and a ruthless rival ranch that will stop at nothing to protect its empire,” the synopsis explains.

Into that world steps Josh Stewart as Sheriff Handy Wade — a character the actor describes carefully, almost suspiciously.

Sheriff Handy Wade May Not Be What He Seems

Stewart avoided revealing too many details about his new role, but the hints he dropped immediately caught fans’ attention.

“They always say if I’m playing the cop then it’s probably not the cop you want to be partners with,” he joked.

That line alone was enough to spark speculation online that Sheriff Wade may operate in morally gray territory — something extremely common in Taylor Sheridan’s television universe.

Stewart also emphasized that South Texas brings an entirely different atmosphere compared to the Montana setting viewers knew from Yellowstone.

“It’s South Texas so it’s a little rough down that wall,” he explained.

According to Stewart, Wade is the type of lawman who keeps relationships with everyone around him — good people, bad people, and everyone in between.

“I think Wade keeps everybody in his back pocket,” he said.

“The good, the bad, the ugly, the indifferent and everybody in between.”

That description suggests Wade could become one of the show’s most unpredictable characters — someone whose alliances may constantly shift depending on what benefits him most.

Finally Working With Taylor Sheridan

One of the biggest reasons Stewart seems excited about Dutton Ranch is finally getting the opportunity to work with creator Taylor Sheridan after years of near-misses.

Sheridan has become one of television’s most powerful creators thanks to the massive success of Yellowstone and its growing network of spin-offs.

For Stewart, joining that world had apparently been close to happening multiple times before scheduling and timing prevented it.

“[Taylor Sheridan and I] had some near collisions of working together over the years,” Stewart explained.

“So finally being able to do that timing wise and character wise and all that is amazing.”

That excitement reflects how influential Sheridan’s projects have become within Hollywood.

Actors increasingly view his shows as opportunities to play morally layered, emotionally intense characters inside cinematic television worlds that blur the line between prestige drama and modern western mythology.

A Massive Cast Of New Faces

Stewart is not the only major addition entering the Dutton Ranch universe.

The series also features an impressive lineup of newcomers including Annette Bening, Ed Harris, Jai Courtney, Natalie Alyn Lind, Marc Menchaca, Juan Pablo Raba, and J. R. Villarreal.

That growing cast suggests the series is positioning itself as a major expansion rather than a simple continuation of Yellowstone.

Fans are especially curious about how Beth and Rip’s famously volatile relationship will evolve now that they are removed from Montana and placed into an entirely new environment filled with different threats.

Stewart Already Imagines A Criminal Minds Crossover

Despite fully embracing his new role, Stewart clearly still carries affection for his Criminal Minds family.

In one of the interview’s funniest moments, he openly supported the idea of one of his former co-stars appearing inside the Dutton Ranch universe.

His choice was immediate.

“Paget Brewster, without a question,” he said.

Then came the image fans instantly loved.

“Give her a bottle of something to drink and a horse. I’m all about it.”

The playful comment immediately sparked reactions online, with many viewers suddenly imagining Emily Prentiss riding through Texas alongside Beth Dutton.

While such a crossover is unlikely, the moment highlighted just how deeply Stewart still values his connection to the Criminal Minds cast and fanbase.

A Career Shift Fans Are Watching Closely

For Josh Stewart, moving from Criminal Minds to Dutton Ranch represents more than just another television role.

It marks a dramatic tonal shift from procedural crime drama into the violent, morally complicated western world Taylor Sheridan has built into one of television’s most successful franchises.

And because Will LaMontagne became such a beloved figure over nearly 20 years, many fans are still emotionally adjusting to seeing Stewart in a much darker, more dangerous role.

But that contrast may be exactly what makes the transition so compelling.

On Criminal Minds, Stewart played stability, kindness, and emotional safety.

On Dutton Ranch, he sounds like someone audiences may never fully trust.

And for viewers still recovering from Will’s shocking death, that unpredictability may make Sheriff Handy Wade one of the most fascinating characters to watch.