Dick Wolf's iconic police procedural Law & Order has returned for its 24th season on the air, but will the flagship show get renewed for season 25? Beginning all the way back in 1990, Law & Order follows 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 original Law & Order was revived in 2022 and s the spinoff Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as two of the longest-running shows in TV history.

Though the Law & Order franchise is no stranger to revolving casts in the more than three decades since its debut, the departure of Sam Waterston as Jack McCoy after season 23 marks a major shift. Waterston ed 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 though Law & Order season 25 has yet to be ordered by NBC, there's little doubt that the classic procedural will be a part of the network's 2025 fall slate.

Law & Order Season 25 Is Not Confirmed

NBC Hasn't Ordered More Episodes Yet

This makes the renewal of Law & Order season 25 seem like a foregone conclusion, but nothing is guaranteed, especially with a show that has been canceled in the past.

With the return of Law & Order season 24 still so fresh, it isn't astounding that NBC has yet to order the show's 25th season. 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 makes the renewal of Law & Order season 25 seem like a foregone conclusion, but nothing is guaranteed, especially with a show that has been canceled in the past.

The spinoff series Law & Order: Organized Crime has gone through a bevy of changes before its fifth season has even aired, and it shows that the franchise is vulnerable to faltering ratings. Though the swift renewal of Law & Order season 24 seemed to be a vote of confidence, it's important to that season 23 was shortened by the 2023 Hollywood strikes. It remains to be seen if the flagship series can maintain a big audience once its back in its regularly-scheduled slot, but if it does, season 25 will be coming sooner rather than later.

Law & Order season 24 premiered on October 3, 2024.

Law & Order Season 25 Cast Details

Who Will Return For Season 25?

The cast of Law & Order has changed dramatically 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 the cast of season 24 will carry over into season 25. Though cast come and go, procedurals rely on a consistent roster of characters to keep audiences invested from year to year. With that in mind, it's expected that Mehcad Brooks will be back as Detective Jalen Shaw alongside season 23's new addition, Detective Vincent Riley (played by Reid Scott).

ing Brooks and Scott will be Hugh Dancy as DA Nolan Pierce, and Odelya Halevi is also expected back as Samantha Maroun. Maura Tierney ed season 24 as Detective Jessica Grady, and she will likely reprise her role for season 25 as well. Since the show is approaching such a milestone season, it's highly likely that many former cast could reprise their roles, especially since Law & Order has such a rich history of major stars playing parts early in their careers.

The presumptive cast of Law & Order season 25 includes:

Law & Order Season 25 Story Details

More Fascinating Cases & Ripped From The Headlines Stories

Since Law & Order is 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. However, with the 25th season marking a major milestone, Law & Order could feature larger arcs that tie back to previous eras of the show's history. Furthermore, crossovers with Law & Order: SVU or Organized Crime are always a possibility.