The showrunner of "Criminal Mind," is leaving the crime drama and is near signing an overall deal with Sony Pictures TV, reports Deadline.com.

The showrunner, Simon Mirren, had wanted to pursue his own development, and after ABC Studios wasn’t interested, Sony made an offer, the story notes. Mirren’s deal is expected to start in June, after his contract with "Criminal Minds" expires at season’s end, the story says.

He joined "Criminal Minds" as a supervising producer soon after it had gone to pilot, and we promoted to executive producer this past fall, the story says, also noting that he is the nephew of actress Helen Mirren.