Law & Order: SVU, the longest-running show in Dick Wolf’s New York cop franchise, will return to NBC for season 24, and here’s what we know.
NBC’s long-running crime procedural Law & Order: SVU is officially returning for season 24, signaling terrible news for New York City’s imaginary criminals. While there’s been many more introduced since, Law & Order: SVU was the first spinoff of the original Law & Order show, premiering in 1999. At the time of SVU’s inception, it’s unlikely most would have anticipated the spinoff would outlast the original, much less possibly reach 30 seasons before all is said and done. Such has been the sticking power of SVU, despite its violent, sexually-charged subject matter.
Originally led by police officers Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni), SVU has subsequently suffered dozens of cast changes, but like the original Law & Order has proven impervious to losing steam as a result. SVU’s procedural formula allows for injecting new people into the mix as needed, and for the most part continuing along unabated. Still, longstanding followers were surely thrilled to see the recurring return of Meloni as Stabler during SVU seasons 22 and 23.
With the original Law & Order show just restored, SVU returning for season 24, and Stabler starring in another spinoff dubbed Organized Crime, the Dick Wolf-created series continues to dominate NBC’s primetime line-up. SVU is at this point the elder gentleman of the crime procedural world, but yet often demonstrates the new contenders in the genre how it should be done. Here’s all that’s known about Law & Order: SVU season 23.
Law & Order: SVU Season 24 Renewal
It’s been known that Law & Order: SVU will have a season 24 for a long time, as franchise president Dick Wolf secured a major deal with NBC in 2020 that resulted to a multi-season renewal. While season 23’s ratings were down a bit year to year, it’s improbable NBC regrets the arrangement, as SVU is still NBC’s fifth-highest viewed scripted program and isn’t far behind the top four. It’s also the highest-rated Law & Order show presently airing.
Who Will Return From Law & Order: SVU Season 24?
Law & Order: SVU has not officially confirmed any cast changes for season 24, although there is no reason to believe that any of season 23’s main or key recurring cast members will not return. Thus, Mariska Hargitay, Kelli Giddish, Ice-T, and others should be back investigating the most terrible crimes in New York City. Two regulars, Jamie Gray Hyder as Detective Kat Tamin and Demore Barnes as Deputy Chief Christian Garland, departed early in Season 23. Barnes did return for one cameo appearance in the future.
Law & Order: SVU Season 24 Plot – What Season 23’s Closing Prepared for
The season 23 finale of Law & Order: SVU lays the stage for an intriguing dramatic turn in season 24, although not on the law enforcement front. Instead, it appears that Olivia Benson’s personal life will receive increased attention, as the return of Rafael Barba (Raul Esparza) will lead to a pretty candid dialogue between Benson and Barba about their unresolved feelings for Stabler. Notably, showrunner Warren Leight recently announced his retirement from SVU; hence, it is unknown whether this would alter the planned plots for season 24.
Law & Order: SVU Season 24 Debut Anticipation
Season 24 of Law & Order: SVU does not yet have a premiere date, which is not uncommon at this point. Still, the majority of SVU seasons debut in September and conclude in May. There is little reason to believe that season 24 will deviate from this trend, therefore a September 2022 premiere is probable.
