Law & Order season 23 is on the way, and news on the next chapter in the legal procedural is just as sought-after as ever. Law & Order was the show that started Dick Wolf’s entire procedural franchise and was the blueprint for many cop shows to follow. After initially ending in 2010, Law & Order returned in 2022 for its 21st season, with season 22 following shortly after. Law & Order season 23 is coming soon from NBC, and many are eager to see what awaits Shaw, Cosgrove, Dixon, and the rest of the NYPD 27th.
When the show returned after its decade-plus hiatus, it was mostly rebooted, with a new Law & Order cast taking on the roles of the NYPD detectives and attorneys. The one mainstay was Sam Waterston returning as district attorney Jack McCoy, giving old-school fans something familiar. The cases were much of the same, ripped from real-world headlines and showcasing dark stories that often kept viewers guessing. When it comes to Law & Order season 23 the Dick Wolf show is likely to keep up the same winning formula.
As the new season’s release date gets closer and closer, the latest news finds a brand-new trailer for the entire Law & Order lineup. Sharing time with its spinoffs, Law & Order: SVU and Organized Crime, the original Law & Order season 23 is teased in a few short clips that show off returning characters. While not seemingly focusing on one specific case, the teaser does hint at several upcoming episodes.
NBC has confirmed that Law & Order will be returning for a 23rd season. The Law & Order season 23 renewal was announced on April 10, 2023. The show returned for season 21 in 2022, after a 12-year absence from television. The announcement came with Dick Wolfe saying he was happy to keep his four-decade relationship with NBC (via NBC Insider).
“All [the Law & Order and One Chicago shows] shows being picked up again is the ultimate accolade to our incredible casts, producers and writers. I’d also like to thank our loyal fans who have kept our NBC shows on the air for what will be a cumulative 84 seasons.”
The release date for Law & Order season 23 has been set for January 18, 2024. Initially, it was expected that new Law & Order episodes would arrive as part of NBC’s Fall 2023 schedule. However, the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes halted production (alongside many other NBC shows and those at other networks, as well as movies). This led to Law & Order season 23 being pushed back to 2024 alongside spinoffs SVU, Organized Crime, as well as Dick Wolf and NBC’s One Chicago block.
Law & Order Season 23 Cast
Jack (Sam Waterston) sits in an office in Law & Order
The main cast of Law & Order season 23 should look familiar, with Mehcad Brooks as Detective Jalen Shaw, and Hugh Dancy as lawyer Nolan Pierce. Also returning for the show is Carnryn Manheim as Kate Dixon and Odelya Halevi as Samantha Maroun. Veteran Law & Order actor Sam Waterston also returned for his classic role as district attorney Jack McCoy. Waterston was happy to return to the series after such a long time and felt good taking on the role of McCoy once again (via NBC Insider).
“Obviously I haven’t really been trying hard to escape [Jack McCoy]. Because here I am after a 10, 12-year break, right back where I was before. I consider myself extraordinarily lucky to have such a long run doing something of real quality that really talks to this country in plain language about what’s going on right now today. It’s just been a wonderful blessing.”
10 Actors Who Played More Than One Role In Law & Order
Since 1990, Law and Order has launched the careers of several actors. Some actors have been repeat offenders with their multiple appearances.
It’s also been confirmed that Law & Order will be losing a main cast member. Jeffrey Donovan, who has played Detective Frank Cosgrove since season 21, has opted not to return to the procedural for season 23. The established revival mainstay has specifically cited “creative reasons” for his departure, though those reasons were not revealed. Donovan is being replaced in the cast by a new full-time actor as Reid Scott will be joining the ensemble as a detective in the latest season.
Law & Order Season 23 Story
Jeffrey Donovan and Mehcad Brooks in Law and Order
The Law & Order season 23 story will likely follow a similar formula to previous seasons. There is rarely an overarching storyline in the procedural series, and each episode is a “pulled from the headlines” police case and mystery that the detectives have to solve. The Law & Order season 23 story focus is almost guaranteed to be on whatever case the NYPD’s 27th Precinct and the DA are tackling in each episode.
