The Law & Order Universe: Every Major Cast Change And Star's Shocking New Project For The 2024-2025 Seasons

The *Law & Order* universe is undergoing one of its most significant cast shakeups in years, with the 2024-2025 season bringing dramatic departures and high-profile new additions across all three flagship shows. As of December 2025, fans are grappling with the exit of a beloved District Attorney in the original series, a double departure from the Special Victims Unit, and a key detective leaving the Organized Crime Control Bureau. This comprehensive guide breaks down every essential casting update, character status, and the surprising recent projects of the franchise's biggest stars, from Mariska Hargitay to Ice-T and Christopher Meloni. The enduring success of the Dick Wolf franchise rests on the shoulders of its iconic actors, but the latest seasons—*Law & Order* Season 24, *SVU* Season 26, and *Organized Crime* Season 5—prove that even the most stable ensembles are subject to change. The common thread for the 2024-2025 run is a focus on new leadership and fresh dynamics in both the police precinct and the District Attorney’s office, ensuring the procedural drama remains fresh for millions of viewers.

The Current Main Cast and Major Changes in the 2024-2025 Seasons

The *Law & Order* franchise is currently anchored by three interconnected series. Here is the definitive list of the main cast members, including the newest faces and the actors who have recently departed, creating a new landscape for the 27th Precinct and the OCCB.

Law & Order (The Original) - Season 24 Cast Breakdown

The original series saw the biggest single change with the departure of a franchise legend, necessitating the introduction of two major new characters to fill the void.

• Tony Goldwyn as District Attorney Nicholas Baxter: Goldwyn joined the cast in the role of the new acting D.A., stepping into the shoes of Sam Waterston’s Jack McCoy. His character is expected to bring a new, high-stakes political dynamic to the courtroom.
• Maura Tierney as Lieutenant Jessica Brady: Best known for her work on *ER* and *The Affair*, Tierney joined the 27th Precinct as the new commanding officer, a seasoned investigator replacing the former lieutenant.
• Hugh Dancy as Executive Assistant District Attorney Nolan Price: Dancy returns as the principled, sharp EADA, continuing to lead the prosecution side of the "ripped from the headlines" cases.
• Mehcad Brooks as Senior Detective Jalen Shaw: Brooks is back as the lead detective, navigating a new partnership and a new Lieutenant.
• Reid Scott as Junior Detective Vincent Riley: Scott also returns, continuing his role as the junior partner in the detective duo.
• Departure: Sam Waterston (Jack McCoy): The iconic actor concluded his legendary run as District Attorney Jack McCoy in Season 23, marking the end of an era for the series.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (SVU) - Season 26 Cast Dynamics

As the longest-running primetime live-action series in TV history, *SVU* maintains its core, but is preparing for a significant shakeup following Season 26.

• Mariska Hargitay as Captain Olivia Benson: The soul of the franchise, Hargitay returns for her record-breaking 26th season as the leader of the Special Victims Unit.
• Ice-T as Sergeant Odafin "Fin" Tutuola: The second longest-serving character, Ice-T is back, providing his signature blend of street smarts and dry wit.
• Peter Scanavino as Assistant District Attorney Dominick “Sonny” Carisi Jr.: Carisi continues his dual role as both a former detective and the unit’s dedicated ADA.
• Kelli Giddish as Detective Amanda Rollins: Giddish is confirmed to return for guest appearances in Season 26, rekindling the fan-favorite relationship with Carisi.
• Departures (Post-Season 26): Octavio Pisano (Detective Joe Velasco) and Juliana Martinez: It was confirmed that both actors will be leaving the NBC drama after the conclusion of Season 26, leaving Captain Benson’s squad with two major vacancies to fill.

Law & Order: Organized Crime (OC) - Season 5 Cast Status

*Organized Crime* is set to continue its high-octane, serialized storytelling with its core team, but has lost a key member of the OCCB.

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• Christopher Meloni as Senior Detective Elliot Stabler: Meloni returns as the head of the Organized Crime Control Bureau, continuing his mission to take down New York’s most powerful criminal syndicates.
• Danielle Moné Truitt as Sergeant Ayanna Bell: Truitt is back as Stabler’s partner and the unit’s commanding officer, a role that has developed into one of the franchise's strongest leadership figures.
• Ainsley Seiger as Detective 2nd Grade Jet Slootmaekers: Seiger continues as the team's tech expert and hacker, a fan-favorite character known for her unique skills.
• Departure: Rick Gonzalez (Detective Bobby Reyes): Gonzalez, who played Detective Bobby Reyes, confirmed his departure from the series, with his character taking a leave of absence from the OCCB.
• Recurring Guest Star: Dean Norris (Randall Stabler): The actor is set to continue his recurring role as Elliot Stabler’s older brother, further exploring Stabler’s complex family history.

The Shocking Off-Screen Projects and Career Moves of the Law & Order Stars

The actors who bring the police procedural to life are busy with major projects outside of the precinct, adding layers to their professional topical authority and generating news headlines in late 2024 and 2025.

Mariska Hargitay: From Benson to Producer and Activist

Captain Olivia Benson’s portrayer, Mariska Hargitay, has significantly expanded her role behind the camera and in the non-profit sector. In 2025, she launched her own production company, Mighty Entertainment, partnering with HBO to develop new projects. Her most personal and high-profile recent project is the HBO documentary, My Mom Jayne, which debuted at the 2025 Tribeca Festival. The film explores the life of her mother, actress Jayne Mansfield, and the family secrets surrounding her life and tragic death. Hargitay also continues her vital work with the Joyful Heart Foundation and the Purple Leash Project, advocating for domestic violence survivors and their companion animals.

Ice-T: Documentarian, Rapper, and Social Commentary

Ice-T, the longest-running male actor in a TV drama, remains deeply engaged in social commentary and his music career. The actor, who also fronts the metal band Body Count, recently hosted a new documentary titled Fame and Fentanyl. The project explores the deadly impact of the drug, driven by the sudden deaths of friends like Coolio and Michael K. Williams. In early 2025, Ice-T made headlines after a heated and publicized traffic stop with a police officer, an incident he later addressed on social media. He also sparked discussion among *SVU* fans by suggesting his reduced screentime was due to budget constraints on the long-running show.

Christopher Meloni and Maura Tierney: Cinematic and Prestige TV Roles

Christopher Meloni, whose return as Elliot Stabler revitalized the franchise, continues to be a central figure. His enduring, fan-favorite on-screen chemistry with Mariska Hargitay remains a hot topic, with the pair continuing to attend industry events together, including the 2025 Primetime Emmy Awards, fueling the "Bensler" ship. Meloni has focused almost exclusively on the *Organized Crime* storyline since his return, and the details surrounding his initial, dramatic exit from *SVU* after Season 12 remain a key part of his biography.

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New cast member Maura Tierney is not slowing down outside of her new role as Lieutenant Jessica Brady. She recently co-starred in the major cinematic release Twisters, a high-stakes disaster movie. Her other recent prestige television and film credits include roles in The Affair, Your Honor, and the critically acclaimed film The Iron Claw, establishing her as a powerhouse addition to the *Law & Order* ensemble. Her previous history with the franchise, having guest-starred on the original show in 1991, also adds a unique layer of fan curiosity to her return.

What the Cast Changes Mean for the Law & Order Franchise's Future

The sheer volume of cast turnover in the 2024-2025 season signals a deliberate effort by Dick Wolf and the creative teams to inject new energy into the long-running procedural dramas. The introduction of Maura Tierney and Tony Goldwyn to the original *Law & Order* is particularly significant. Goldwyn’s D.A. Nicholas Baxter has the unenviable task of following Sam Waterston’s Jack McCoy, an institution within the franchise. This transition promises new philosophical clashes in the courtroom, moving away from the established dynamics of the past two decades. The departures from *SVU*, specifically the exits of Detectives Velasco and Martinez, open up the possibility of a new generation of detectives joining Captain Benson’s elite squad. While Kelli Giddish’s return as Detective Amanda Rollins is a welcome sight for fans, the long-term future of the unit will depend on who Benson selects to replace the departing officers, a storyline that will undoubtedly drive much of the drama in the upcoming Season 27. The showrunners have a history of using cast changes to pivot the show’s focus, and the 2025 shakeup is the biggest opportunity yet to evolve the show beyond its central duo of Benson and Fin. The *Organized Crime* team, while losing Rick Gonzalez's Bobby Reyes, remains focused on the central mission of Stabler, Bell, and Jet Slootmaekers. The serialized nature of the show allows for villains and supporting characters to cycle through more frequently, but the core trio is the bedrock. The ongoing exploration of the Stabler family, with Dean Norris’s recurring role as Randall, provides the necessary emotional depth and continuity to balance the high-stakes crime plots and maintain the show's unique identity within the franchise. The focus on Elliot Stabler's personal journey, including his grief and his relationship with his brother, remains a key driver for the show's topical authority. The *Law & Order* universe is not just surviving; it is actively evolving. The 2024-2025 seasons are defined by the bold decision to refresh the ensemble, proving that even after decades on air, the franchise is committed to delivering fresh, unique, and compelling police and legal drama.