NBC wants more Law & Order. The original installment of the popular crime drama series, Law & Order originally debuted in 1990 where it aired for 20 seasons, producing multiple spinoffs in the process. The show went off the air in 2010, though other franchise shows like Special Victims Unit have kept the brand alive in subsequent years. Still, many fans still remembered the original series fondly, leading to NBC ordering a 21st season featuring a mix of new and returning characters.
Season 21 premiered on NBC in February. The network has been pleased with how Law & Order has been received with its comeback, as the show has now been officially renewed for season 22, per Collider. Sam Waterston and Anthony Anderson returned for the revival to reprise their original Law & Order roles as District Attorney Jack McCoy and Detective Kevin Bernard. Other characters have also made appearances such as Jeffrey Donovan as Bernard's old partner Frank Cosgrove. New characters include Hugh Dancy as Executive District Attorney Nolan Price, Camryn Manheim as Lieutenant Kate Dixon, and Odelya Halevi as Assistant District Attorney Samantha Maroun.
Lisa Katz, President of Scripted Programming at NBCU Entertainment and Streaming, said of the renewal in a statement:
“The iconic Law & Order brand has long been synonymous with NBC, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring back all three of these dramas for the 2022-23 season. [I]t’s a testament to the brilliance of Dick Wolf’s storytelling that audiences remain compelled by these unforgettable characters week after week, year after year.”
Executive producer Dick Wolf added:
“Dreams do come true. The renewals of the entire Wednesday and Thursday night lineups is the ultimate verification of our partnership with NBC and Universal Television. I personally want to thank the talented writers and casts, the producers who keep the trains running on time and the crews who tirelessly turn out outstanding shows despite a degree of difficulty never before experienced due to the pandemic.”
Law & Order Season 21 Brings Back Original Stars
Seeing original stars like Sam Waterston return was a big draw for many fans. Waterston previously shed some light on his decision to reprise his role of Jack McCoy, revealing that he was initially apprehensive as it seemed like it wouldn't offer anything new for the actor. As he mulled the decision over, Waterston realized he'd regret turning it down, deciding that it was worth getting back into the Law & Order world to see how this revival went. He previously told Variety:
“I thought at first, ‘Haven’t I done this already?’ I’m so glad I didn’t miss this chance, because you’re racing through your life and you’re in a big hurry all the time. You don’t really get much opportunity to ever look at it or look back at it or look down at it at the height of it. You know, a life is a big deal.”
Law & Order airs Thursdays on NBC. Season 22 does not yet have a premiere date.