Law & Order (season 21)

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Law & Order
Season 21
Law & Order (season 21 poster).png
Promotional poster
Starring
Country of originUnited States
No. of episodes4
Release
Original networkNBC
Original releaseFebruary 24, 2022 (2022-02-24) –
present (present)
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 20
List of episodes

The twenty-first season of Law & Order, an American police procedural and legal drama, was ordered by NBC on September 28, 2021, over a decade after its original cancellation. The season began airing on February 24, 2022, as a mid-season replacement during the 2021–2022 broadcast season. Series creator Dick Wolf returned as an executive producer. Rick Eid was named showrunner. The series is produced by Wolf Entertainment and Universal Television. Jeffrey Donovan, Camryn Manheim, Hugh Dancy and Odelya Halevi have been cast in starring roles, alongside Anthony Anderson and Sam Waterston.

Cast and characters[]

Main article: List of Law & Order characters

Main[]

Notable guest[]

Episodes[]

See also: List of Law & Order episodes
Law & Order season 21 episodes
No.
overall		No. in
season		Title [1]Directed byWritten byOriginal air date [1]Prod.
code		U.S viewers
(millions)
4571"The Right Thing"Jean de SegonzacDick Wolf & Rick EidFebruary 24, 2022 (2022-02-24)21015.80[2]
4582"Impossible Dream"Michael PressmanTeleplay by : Rick Eid
Story by : Pamela Wechsler & Rick Eid		March 3, 2022 (2022-03-03)21024.46[3]
4593"Filtered Life"Milena GovichArt Alamo & Pamela WechslerMarch 10, 2022 (2022-03-10)21034.21[4]
4604"Fault Lines"Heather CappielloPamela Wechsler & Art AlamoMarch 17, 2022 (2022-03-17)21044.62[5]
4615"Free Speech"TBATBAApril 7, 2022 (2022-04-07)2105TBA

Production[]

Development[]

The prospect of reviving Law & Order for a twenty-first season first came about in the more immediate wake of cancellation, with talks falling through with TNT and AMC.[6] In February 2015, it was reported that NBC was eyeing a limited series of 10 episodes.[7] However, it never made it to active development. In July 2021, NBC scrapped Law & Order: For the Defense, a planned spinoff in the franchise they had ordered straight to series the previous May,[8] and scheduled to lead a Thursday schedule entirely occupied by the franchise, with Special Victims Unit and Organized Crime. It was stated at the time that in its stead new spinoffs were being developed. On September 28, 2021, NBC officially renewed the show.[9][10][11] Despite being billed as a twenty-first season, NBC gave it the same "straight to series" order they gave For the Defense,[12] as it is typically used only for new series.[13] Series creator Dick Wolf returned as an executive producer.[14] Wolf signed an overall deal with NBC and Universal Television in 2020 that will keep him at the network through 2025.[15] In December 2019, Wolf had asked former showrunner Rene Balcer to return to run the show again, but Balcer declined.[16] Wolf then asked other former Law & Order show runners to take the helm, but they also declined. Finally, Rick Eid, who was an executive producer and the incumbent showrunner on Chicago P.D. and FBI, which share a fictional universe with the Law & Order franchise, all of which are produced by Wolf Entertainment and Universal Television, stepped down as showrunner of Chicago P.D. to take over showrunning duties of Law & Order.[17] Eid will also be an executive producer during the season and retains that role on Chicago P.D. as well.[17] Arthur Forney and Peter Jankowski will also serve as executive producers.[18] Production on the season began on December 8, 2021.[19]

Casting[]

On November 1, 2021, Jeffrey Donovan was cast as a series regular to portray a New York Police Department detective.[20][21] At that time it was also reported that Sam Waterston and Anthony Anderson, who starred in earlier seasons of the series, and additional former cast members were also in talks to return.[22] Waterston previously stated in 2015 that he would be open to returning.[23] Other previous cast members S. Epatha Merkerson, Jeremy Sisto and Alana de la Garza hold starring roles on Chicago Med and FBI, series that both exist within the same fictional universe and are produced by Wolf Entertainment.[24] On November 23, 2021, it was announced that Hugh Dancy had been cast as an Assistant District Attorney and that Anderson had signed a one-year deal to return as Detective Kevin Bernard.[25] On December 10, 2021, it was revealed that Camryn Manheim had been cast as Lieutenant Kate Dixon, the successor to Merkerson's character Lieutenant Anita Van Buren. Manheim portrayed minor characters in previous seasons of the series.[26] On December 15, 2021, Odelya Halevi was announced to be joining the cast as Assistant District Attorney Samantha Maroun.[27] A day later, Waterston was announced to have finalized a one-year deal to return as District Attorney Jack McCoy.[28]

Release[]

When first announced it was unclear whether the season would air in the 2021–22 or 2022–23 television season;[29] it was later reported that it would premiere as a mid-season replacement on February 24, 2022.[30] It airs in the 8 PM Thursday timeslot that For the Defense had been scheduled for, alongside SVU and Organized Crime,[31] and is set to see fictional crossovers with both series.[32]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Shows A-Z – Law & Order on NBC". The Futon Critic. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  2. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (February 25, 2022). "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Thursday 2.24.2022". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  3. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (March 4, 2022). "Showbuzzdaily's Top 150 Thursday's Cable Originals & Network Finals: 3.3.2022". Showbuzz Daily. United States. Archived from the original on March 4, 2022. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  4. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (March 11, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Thursday 3.10.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  5. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (March 18, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Thursday 3.17.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  6. ^ "AMC Investigates Reviving Law & Order". Vulture. July 6, 2010. Archived from the original on July 10, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  7. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 6, 2015). "NBC Eyes 'Law & Order' Limited Series". Deadline. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  8. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (July 15, 2021). "'Law & Order: For The Defense' Not Moving Forward; New 'L&O' Spinoff In Works At NBC". Deadline. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  9. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (September 28, 2021). "'Law & Order' to Return for Season 21 on NBC". Variety. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  10. ^ Lash, Jolie (September 28, 2021). "The original Law & Order is coming back for season 21". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  11. ^ Ausiello, Michael (September 28, 2021). "Law & Order: NBC Revives Original Flagship Series, Orders Season 21 a Decade After Abrupt Cancellation". TVLine. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  12. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (September 28, 2021). "'Law & Order' Revived for Season 21 at NBC". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  13. ^ Adalian, Josef (November 27, 2013). "Straight to Series: The Networks' Big-Money Bet to Skip Pilots". Vulture. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  14. ^ Jevens, Darel (September 28, 2021). "'Law & Order' will return for Season 21, NBC says". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  15. ^ Sinha, Charu (September 28, 2021). "Law & Order Revived by NBC for Season 21". Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  16. ^ Gay, Verne (February 17, 2022). "Law-&-Order-returns-for-its-21st-season-after-a-12-year-break". Newsday.
  17. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (October 20, 2021). "'Chicago P.D.': Gwen Sigan Upped To Showrunner, Inks Universal TV Overall Deal, Rick Eid To Remain EP". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  18. ^ "NBC Brings Back One of Its Most Treasured and Honored Dramas with the 21st Season of "Law & Order"" (Press release). NBC. September 28, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2021 – via The Futon Critic.
  19. ^ Roots, Kimberly (December 8, 2021). "Law & Order's Revival Is Underway! See the First Photo From the Season 21 Set". TVLine. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  20. ^ Otterson, Joe (November 1, 2021). "'Law & Order' Revival at NBC Casts Jeffrey Donovan". Variety. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  21. ^ Roots, Kimberly (November 1, 2021). "Law & Order Revival Casts Burn Notice's Jeffrey Donovan in Season 21". TVLine. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  22. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (November 1, 2021). "Jeffrey Donovan To Star In 'Law & Order' Revival On NBC". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  23. ^ Stanhope, Kate (May 6, 2015). "Sam Waterston on 'Law & Order' Revival: Let's "Break the Record"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  24. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (September 28, 2021). "'Law & Order' Revived By NBC For Season 21 From Dick Wolf & Rick Eid". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  25. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (November 23, 2021). "Hugh Dancy Joins 'Law & Order', Anthony Anderson Set To Return For NBC Revival". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  26. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (December 10, 2021). "Camryn Manheim Joins 'Law & Order' Revival On NBC". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  27. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (December 15, 2021). "'Law & Order': Odelya Halevi Joins NBC Revival". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  28. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (December 16, 2021). "Sam Waterston Returns To 'Law & Order', Will Reprise Jack McCoy Role In NBC Revival". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  29. ^ Zahn, Jennifer (November 2, 2021). "NBC's Law & Order Revival Tracks Down a Lead in Jeffrey Donovan". Vulture. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  30. ^ Cohn, Paulette (November 10, 2021). "Get Ready for Midseason TV With Our 2021-2022 Schedule, Including the ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and The CW Lineups". Parade. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  31. ^ Pedersen, Erik (November 12, 2021). "NBC Midseason Premiere Dates: 'This Is Us' Final Season, 'Law & Order' Thursdays, 'Kenan' On Mondays". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  32. ^ Roots, Kimberly (November 12, 2021). "Law & Order Original Series Revival Gets February Premiere Date at NBC". TVLine. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
Preceded by
Season Twenty
(1990–2010) 		List of Law & Order seasons
(1990–present) 		Succeeded by
TBA
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