Dick Wolf’s iconic police proceduralLaw & Ordercompleted its 24th season on the air, and NBC renewed the flagship show for season 25. Beginning all the way back in 1990,Law & Orderfollows the detectives and prosecutors of the NYPD as they tackle weekly cases that sometimes involve stories ripped straight from the headlines.
Shockingly canceled after 20 seasons in 2010, the originalLaw & Orderwas revived in 2022 and joins its spinoff,Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,as two of the longest-running shows in TV history.
Though theLaw & Orderfranchise is no stranger to revolving casts in the more than three decades since its debut,the departure of Sam Waterston as Jack McCoyafter season 23 marks a major shift. Waterston joined the series in season 5, and faithfully played the District Attorney character again after the show was revived.
Despite this, the series has never been stronger, and it’s no surprise thatLaw & Orderseason 25 is part of NBC’s fall 2025 lineup.
The Latest Law & Order Season 25 News
A Main Cast Member Is Leaving
The latestLaw & Orderseason 25 news is surprising for a lot of fans of the series. Fan-favorite characterDetective Jalen Shaw will no longer be a part of the series. ActorMehcad Brooks is leavingLaw & Order.
Brooks has been a part of the series since it was revived, replacing another detective who was written out of the show. Since then, he has become a fan-favorite among the ensemble, and one of the grounding forces in a cast that has seen a lot of change in recent years.
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Reports have not indicated whether Brooks will return for an episode or two for his character to receive an on-screen sendoff, but it appears the decision to leave the show was mutual for Brooks, who wants to pursue other projects, and the producers, who have had the budget slashed by NBC this season.
Law & Order Season 25 Is Confirmed
NBC Ordered More Episodes In May 2025
NBC has confirmed thatLaw & Orderhas been renewed for season 25. The network renewed the series alongsideLaw & Order: SVUon June 17, 2025, the week before the series aired its season finale.
The police procedural franchise has proven to be a consistent success for the network, and NBC’s partnership with Dick Wolf has produced far more hits than misses. This made the renewal ofLaw & Orderseason 25 seem like a foregone conclusion, but nothing is guaranteed, especially with a show that has been canceled in the past.
Luckily, NBC likes the combination of the two shows, and it will air them back-to-back as part of thefall 2025 TV schedule.Law & Orderwill lead off Thursday nightsfor the network, with SVU airing right after.Law & Order, however, has been subject to budget cuts and will only have 13 episodes for season 25.
Law & Orderseason 24 premiered on August 15, 2025, and concluded on July 20, 2025.
Law & Order Season 25 Cast Details
Who Will Return For Season 25?
…procedurals rely on a consistent roster of characters to keep audiences invested…
The cast ofLaw & Orderhas changeddramatically across its 24 seasons, and there’s no doubt that more alterations to the ensemble will come in the future. However, until more information is available, it’s safe to assume that most of the main cast of season 24 will carry over into season 25.
Though cast members come and go, procedurals rely on a consistent roster of characters to keep audiences invested from year to year. With that in mind, Detective Vincent Riley (played by Reid Scott) will be back for season 25. Joining Brooks and Scott will be Hugh Dancy as DA Nolan Pierce, and Odelya Halevi is also expected back as Samantha Maroun.
Maura Tierney joined season 24 as Detective Jessica Grady, and she will reprise her role for season 25 as well. With Mehcad Brooks leaving the series, however, there will be another spot for a new detective to be added to the show.
Tony Goldwyn
Nicholas Baxter
Since the show is approaching such a milestone season,it’s highly likely that many former cast members could reprise their roles, especially sinceLaw & Orderhas such a rich history of major stars playing parts early in their careers.
The series also saw success in its crossover episodes withLaw & Order: SVU, so it’s likely the two shows will see characters hopping between them and sharing cases again in season 25.
Law & Order Season 25 Story Details
More Fascinating Cases & Ripped From The Headlines Stories
SinceLaw & Orderis a traditional procedural,each episode is typically a standalone story that has little connection to a larger plot. As such, predicting what will happen in season 25 is both easy and hard, since it will undoubtedly feature weekly cases and ripped from the headlines stories, but knowing the specifics is impossible.
One storyline fromLaw & Orderseason 24 that is expected to impact the new season is that of assistant district attorney Samantha Maroun. Maroun became heavily involved in a case that was tied to her sister’s murder at theend ofLaw & Order season 24. It’s even implied that she took justice into her own hands.
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Even with the typical season-to-season time jump that a series likeLaw & Orderemploys, the effects of that case will likely be felt throughout the season. Other members of the main cast might be doubting Maroun’s ability to follow the law on the cases - a real problem for an ADA.
With the upcoming 25th season marking a major milestone,Law & Ordercould feature larger arcs that tie back to previous eras of the show’s history. Furthermore,crossovers withLaw & Order: SVUorOrganized Crimeare always a possibility.
Law & Order
Cast
Law & Order is a procedural crime drama series that premiered in 1990, featuring New York City police detectives and prosecutors as they investigate and prosecute serious crimes. The show is known for its two-part approach, dividing between the crime-solving efforts of the detectives and the legal proceedings in court.
