More than 11 years after one of NBC’s most bizarre cancellations, taking the original Law & Order off the air before what would have been its record-breaking 21st season, the network is bringing the beloved show back.
NBC has given the green light for a 21st season of the original flagship series from series/franchise creator Dick Wolf and writer/showrunner Rick Eid, according to a network press release.
Casting and a premiere date will be announced at a later time, though it’s believed that several of the stars from the show that launched a massive franchise will return.
Coming back: More than 11 years after one of NBC’s most bizarre cancellations, taking the original Law & Order off the air before what would have been its record-breaking 21st season, the network is bringing the beloved show back
Several stars: Casting and a premiere date will be announced at a later time, though it’s believed that several of the stars from the show that launched a massive franchise will return
Green light: NBC has given the green light for a 21st season of the original flagship series from series/franchise creator Dick Wolf and writer/showrunner Rick Eid, according to a network press release
Law & Order will continue with the format created for the original run that was used for its several spin-offs, following, ‘the police who investigate crime and the district attorneys who prosecute the offenders.’
‘There are very few things in life that are literally dreams come true. This is mine,’ said creator and executive producer Dick Wolf.
‘Law & Order is quite simply one of the most iconic shows in television history, and the idea of continuing its legacy and partnering with Dick on an all-new season is nothing short of exhilarating. This is great news for NBC as well as TV fans everywhere,’ said Susan Rovner, Chairman, Entertainment Content, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming.
Format: Law & Order will continue with the format created for the original run that was used for its several spin-offs, following, ‘the police who investigate crime and the district attorneys who prosecute the offenders’
‘The return of the flagship Law & Order series for a pivotal 21st season is a proud moment for Dick and a proud moment for us, his studio partners,’ said Pearlena Igbokwe, Chairman, Universal Studio Group.
Law & Order was on the brink of passing Gunsmoke as the longest-running primetime drama series ever with its 21st season, though the show was ultimately canceled without a proper finale when renewal negotiations fell through.
NBC instead opted to pick up Law & Order: Los Angeles, starring Skeet Ulrich and Corey Stoll, though it only lasted for one 22-episode season.
Brink: Law & Order was on the brink of passing Gunsmoke as the longest-running primetime drama series ever with its 21st season, though the show was ultimately canceled without a proper finale when renewal negotiations fell through
Dick Wolf’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit ultimately passed Gunsmoke in the record books, now in its 23rd Season, though Gunsmoke still holds the record for most live-action episodes (635), though The Simpsons currently have 707 episodes for the most in primetime TV history.
The original Law & Order garnered over 50 Emmy Award nominations, winning Outstanding Drama Series in 1997.
Law & Order first spun off into Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, which debuted in 1999 and was followed by Law & Order: Criminal Intent, which ran for 10 seasons between 2001 and 2011.
Special victims: Dick Wolf’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit ultimately passed Gunsmoke in the record books, now in its 23rd Season, though Gunsmoke still holds the record for most live-action episodes (635), though The Simpsons currently have 707 episodes for the most in primetime TV history
Criminal Intent: Law & Order first spun off into Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, which debuted in 1999 and was followed by Law & Order: Criminal Intent, which ran for 10 seasons between 2001 and 2011
Other spin-offs included Law & Order: Trial by Jury and Law & Order: True Crime, both of which only lasted one season, with the latest, Law & Order: Organized Crime, starring Christopher Meloni returning as Elliot Stabler, debuting this spring.
This new series will be executive produced by Wolf and Eid, alongside Wolf Entertainment’s Arthur Forney and Peter Jankowski.
Many of the cast members from Law & Order are currently on some of Wolf’s other shows, with S. Epatha Merkerson starring on NBC’s Chicago Med and Alana De La Garza starring on the CBS series FBI.
Elliot returns: Other spin-offs included Law & Order: Trial by Jury and Law & Order: True Crime, both of which only lasted one season, with the latest, Law & Order: Organized Crime, starring Christopher Meloni returning as Elliot Stabler, debuting this spring