Fans of Law & Order were happily surprised in 2022 when NBC revived the flagship series. As the 2025-2026 TV season approaches, the show marks its 25th season.
When the series, which follows both the police and the prosecutors in the New York criminal justice department, premiered in 1990 it starred George Dzundra, Chris Noth, Dann Florek, Michael Moriarty, Richard Brooks and Steven Hill. During the show’s first run, which lasted 20 seasons, many faces came and went, and the same can be said for the revival.
From season 21 in 2022 to season 24, which concluded in May, Hugh Dancy and Odelya Halevi were the only two left standing from the show’s rebooted cast as Anthony Anderson, Jeffrey Donovan, Camryn Manheim and Sam Waterson have all since left the police and courtroom drama.
As fans brace themselves for season 25 of Law & Order one beloved cast member has already exited — but is everyone else sticking around?
Scroll down how everything Us Weekly has learned about the cast for the upcoming season:
Hugh Dancy
Dancy has played Executive Assistant District Attorney Nolan Price since Law & Order returned to NBC in 2022. He is expected to return for the new season after contract negotiations, which according to Deadline resulted in most actors agreeing to being featured on less episodes than usual due to cost-cutting measures.
Odelya Halevi
Halevi began portraying Assistant District Attorney Samantha Maroun in 2022 alongside Dancy. The pair work together at the DA’s office and despite butting heads at times, they appear to be a united front going into season 25, as she is said to be coming back.
Mechad Brooks
Brooks played Frank Cosgrove’s (Donovan) new partner, Senior Detective Jalen Shaw, during season 22 after Anderson’s one-year deal to revive Detective Kevin Bernard came to an end. Brooks’ character was paired up with Scott’s Riley for seasons 23 and 24 after Donovan also left the show.
Multiple outlets confirmed in July that Brooks is not returning for season 25. He will most likely be written off in a discussion between Riley and their boss Brady (Maura Tierney) during the season premiere. According to Deadline, Brooks’ departure was a mutual decision between him and the network.
Reid Scott
Scott joined the cast during season 23 as Detective Vincent Riley when he became Shaw’s (Brooks) partner. He is expected to return for the next season.
Maura Tierney
Following Manheim’s exit as Lieutenant Kate Dixon in 2024, Tierney was cast as Lieutenant Jessica Brady. She made her debut during the season 24 premiere that October, revealing that Dixon left New York because her deaf son got a job in Florida and she wanted to follow him.
Following a successful first season, Tierney is set to return for season 25.
Tony Goldwyn
Law & Order alum Waterson helped relaunch the franchise for seasons 21 and 22, reviving his character of District Attorney Jack McCoy. Once he officially exited the series, Goldwyn took over as District Attorney Nicholas Baxter starting with season 23.
“I always loved being surprised by where my career takes me,” Goldwyn exclusively told Us Weekly during season 24 in October 2024.
The actor teased, “I guess you could call it a demotion of sorts in terms of the job from President to DA. But it’s a really interesting character and the DA — it’s a fascinating job.”
Goldwyn previously played the President of the United States on Scandal before heading up the DA’s office on Law & Order. He is reportedly coming back to the NBC drama for season 25, per multiple outlets.
