Do you find yourself eagerly awaiting the next episode of Law & Order: SVU? Then continue reading to find out more.
We know that sometimes it can get difficult to keep up with television schedules, especially when we consider that this year has started off with a major bump on the road with the emergence of the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike that is still ongoing with nine weeks already into the strike, which first began at 12:01 a.m. PDT on May 2, 2023.
It is a labor dispute between the Writers Guild of America, which represents 11,500 screenwriters, and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers that has caused many major writers’ rooms to come to a temporary halt until the issue at hand has reached a proper resolution.
Due to this, there have been tense negotiations happening behind the scenes where many networks, including NBC, are considering postponing their legacy series for a little while.
They might shift the entire primetime slot of the fall season by holding some show’s official comeback until late 2023 or even for an early 2024 release, which will be ideal if we consider that there is no chance that the new season will be able to begin production in the coming weeks, which will lead the crew to commence shoot later this year only if the issue is resolved by the end of August 2023, as it is during this time that major production starts to come to full force.
Hence, if we factor in all these developments along with the fact that there is a possibility of an actor’s strike happening too, which doesn’t help in stopping hurdles on the network’s way anytime soon! As the actors might also join hands with the writers, causing more delay in the series filming! So, it makes sense that no new episodes from the much-awaited 25th season of Law & Order: SVU will be premiering tonight on NBC, nor is it scheduled to return in the summer streaming season!
We are certain that this hiatus might last for a while, which is quite a relief for the fans who wanted to catch up with the prior seasons in case they hadn’t been able to stream them yet! But if you want to know all the rumored details about Law & Order: SVU‘s new chapter, then you’ve reached the right place! In this article, we’ll answer some of the crucial burning questions that will give you all the details on what to expect from the beloved crime drama series.
So, it’s time to grab your popcorn and dive into knowing the possible release date for the new episodes of Law & Order: SVU Season 25.
Law & Order: SVU Season 25 Release Date: When will it premiere on NBC?
We regret to inform you that it looks like the eagerly awaited 25th season of Law & Order: SVU will not be available on NBC in 2023, making the fandom wait for longer than they anticipated, as it’s only been a few months since the renewal was announced earlier this year, which was a great update to give the fandom a heads up about the timeline.
If you’ve been watching Law & Order: SVU for a while, then you’ll probably know that the network often takes an extended break before the start of the next season, which runs from September to May each year.
As a result, the upcoming season is also going to take a brief hiatus, as its predecessors did, especially when we consider the fact that major changes in the fall schedule for various networks have been a hot topic for weeks since the ongoing 2023 Writers Guild of America came into effect.
The strike doesn’t seem to stop anytime soon, which can cause the network to thoroughly revise their upcoming fall television season by postponing the release date of the most beloved shows, including Law & Order: SVU, just like their competitor CBS, which has also been rumored to undergo a quick review of the upcoming 2023 lineup by releasing a new schedule in the coming weeks.
If we take all these factors into consideration, then it’s not farfetched to say that right now, the possibility of this crime drama series returning in 2023 is uncertain, as there is a chance that the creators might change the release window from September 2023 to sometime later this year or even for 2024 with the same time slot of every Thursday at 9/8c, only if the situation isn’t resolved by August, as that’s when the majority of NBC’s shows are scheduled to begin filming new episodes.
The network might be trying to avoid any further disruption caused by the writer’s strike and disclose new details in the near future!
Until we get any official confirmation, we’ll just have to wait and see what direction the writers and crew will take going forward! In the meantime, check out the official announcement as shared by the show’s Twitter handle confirming the previous release window of the entire Law & Order franchise, quoting, “Alert the squad! Law & Order and SVU return Thursdays this fall, and Organized Crime returns in 2024 on @NBC and streaming on @Peacock.”
Alert the squad! 🚨Law & Order and SVU return Thursdays this fall and Organized Crime returns in 2024 on @NBC and streaming on @Peacock. pic.twitter.com/a8FMJFKbPa
— 𝐋𝐀𝐖 & 𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐄𝐑 (@lawandordertv) May 12, 2023
Law & Order: SVU Season 25: Everything else we know so far
What to expect from the new season’s plot?
Everything regarding the plot of Season 25 has been kept under wraps as the network does not want any early spoilers to leak before the fans get a chance to watch the new season.
But we are certain that the next season will definitely pick up elements from the final episode of Law & Order: SVU Season 24, “All Pain Is One Malady,” which is directed by Norberto Barba and written by David Graziano & Julie Martin. In the episode, viewers got to see that in the search for a revenge-for-hire crime ring, Benson and Stabler combine forces on a case that has now spread globally. Fin and Bruno help a victim assaulted a second time, and Jet’s plan to hack the dark web backfires and puts the team in danger.
Moreover, the synopsis of the show follows: This groundbreaking series from executive producer Dick Wolf’s “Law & Order” franchise chronicles the ripped-from-the-headlines investigations of the NYPD’s Special Victims Unit. Led by courageous and compassionate Capt. Olivia Benson, this elite team includes Sgt. Odafin Tutuola, Detective Amanda Rollins, Officer Katriona Tamin, and Deputy Chief Christian Garland focus on finding justice for the victims of the city’s worst crimes. Assisting them is ADA Sonny Carisi, who seeks justice for SVU’s victims and survivors with passion and precision.
“I’m pleased to continue my four-decade relationship with Universal Television and NBC,” Dick Wolf said in a statement of his own. Further adding, “All six shows being picked up again is the ultimate accolade to our incredible casts, producers, and writers. I’d also like to thank our loyal fans who have kept our NBC shows on the air for what will be a cumulative 84 seasons.”
Who will reprise their roles in the new season?
As of writing this, no new cast additions have been announced for Law & Order: SVU Season 25, which, if ever happens, will be disclosed once the production begins!
Until then, the main cast members who are expected to return include Mariska Hargitay as Captain Olivia Benson, Kelli Giddish as Senior Detective Amanda Rollins, Ice-T as Sergeant Odafin “Fin” Tutuola, Peter Scanavino as Assistant District Attorney Dominick “Sonny” Carisi, Jr., Octavio Pisano as Junior Detective Joe Velasco, among others. Molly Burnett, who played Junior Detective Grace Muncy, has also left the show after less than a year on the show, Deadline has confirmed.
“We understand the emotional connection our audience has with these characters and we can’t wait to bring more of their stories to the forefront next season,” Lisa Katz, the president of scripted programming at NBCUniversal and Streaming, said in a statement. Further adding, “A huge thank you to Dick and his amazing team who are the masters of producing incredibly compelling television week after week.”
The crew of this beloved series, including Dick Wolf, is the creator and executive producer. David Graziano, Julie Martin, Mariska Hargitay, Norberto Barba, Kenneth Brown, Arthur Forney, and Peter Jankowski executive produce. “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with Wolf Entertainment.
Always a good time on set. 🤗 #SVU pic.twitter.com/UXt0JFTdCJ
— 𝐋𝐀𝐖 & 𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐄𝐑 (@lawandordertv) June 21, 2023
How many episodes will be there, and where to stream them?
The series has received a 22-episode order from the network, except for Law & Order: Organized Crime, which will have 13 episodes that are expected to air on a weekly basis. The episode count might vary if the network decides to air a shorter one as a part of cost-cutting or the ongoing writer’s strike. All details on the episode titles and synopses will be released later, once the premiere date draws near, in order to prevent early spoilers.
We’d also like to point out that the network hasn’t published any new official trailer or teaser for the new season, as filming hasn’t even begun. So, the fans will have to rely on the previous season’s plotlines to remember what’s happened so far if you haven’t watched the show yet.
In the meantime, check out the prior episodes to catch up with the story if you haven’t been able to! The series is available on NBC’s official website and app for free based on the user’s location. The viewers can also catch up with all the seasons on Peacock, Hulu Plus, FuboTV, and Sky TV in the UK. It is also available for renting or purchasing on Vudu or Amazon Instant Video, with a vast number of membership plans.
We NEVER cried at weddings… until now. 😭😭😭 #SVU pic.twitter.com/9MU2PcUXHL
— 𝐋𝐀𝐖 & 𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐄𝐑 (@lawandordertv) July 6, 2023
While you wait for Law & Order: SVU Season 25 to premiere, share your thoughts on the ongoing strike in the comments.