NBC's long-running crime procedural Law & Order show, debuting in 1999. At the time of SVU's launch, it's unlikely most would have predicted the spinoff would outlast the original, much less possibly reach 30 seasons before all is said and done. Such has been the staying power of SVU, despite its grisly, sexually-charged subject matter.
Originally led by police partners Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni), SVU has since experienced lots of cast changes, but like the original Law & Order has proven resilient to losing steam as a result. SVU's procedural formula allows for plugging new players into the mix whenever needed, and for the most part moving along unabated. Still, longtime viewers were certainly happy to see the recurring return of Meloni as Stabler during SVU seasons 22 and 23.
With the original Law & Order show recently resurrected, SVU returning for season 24, and Stabler starring in another spinoff subtitled Organized Crime, the Dick Wolf-created franchise continues to dominate NBC's primetime line-up. SVU is at this point the elder statesman of the crime procedural world, but still often shows the new contenders in the genre how it should be done. Here's everything that's known about Law & Order: SVU season 23.
Law & Order: SVU Season 24 Renewal
It's been known that Law & Order: SVU would get a season 24 for a long time, as franchise boss Dick Wolf brokered a massive deal with NBC in 2020 that led to a multi-season renewal. While season 23's ratings were down a bit year to year, it's doubtful NBC regrets that pact, as SVU is still NBC's fifth-highest rated scripted program and isn't far behind the top four. It's also the highest-rated Law & Order show currently airing.
Law & Order: SVU Season 24 Cast - Who Will Return?
NBC has yet to confirm any cast changes for Law & Order: SVU season 24, but there's no real reason to expect any of season 23's regular or major recurring cast not to return. That means Mariska Hargitay, Kelli Giddish, Ice-T and more should all be back investigating New York City's most heinous crimes. Season 23 did see the departures of two regulars early on, Jamie Gray Hyder as Detective Kat Tamin and Demore Barnes as Deputy Chief Christian Garland. Barnes did later return for one guest appearance.
Law & Order: SVU Season 24 Story - What Season 23's Ending Set Up
Law & Order: SVU's season 23 finale set the stage for an interesting dramatic turn for season 24, although not when it comes to the law enforcement side of things. Instead, it would appear that Olivia Benson's personal life will get some renewed focus, with the return of Rafael Barba (Raul Esparza) leading to a rather frank conversation between the two that highlighted unresolved feelings Benson has for Stabler and Barba has for Benson. Notably, showrunner Warren Leight recently announced his departure from SVU, so it's unclear if that will change season 24's planned storylines.
Law & Order: SVU Season 24 Release Date Prediction
Law & Order: SVU season 24 has yet to be assigned a premiere date, which isn't unusual this far out. Still, most SVU seasons premiere in September and end in May. There's no reason to expect season 24 to change that pattern, so a September 2022 premiere is likely.
