Law & Order season 24: Release date, cast and latest news

The popular Dick Wolf procedural drama continues to grip viewers with its focus on gritty New York-based stories and adopting a two-pronged approach of the NYPD and the Manhattan District Attorney's office.

And there's plenty more to come, as showrunner Rick Eid teased in an interview with NBC Insider: "Something we're sort of emphasising this year is trying to learn more about some of our characters.

"It's still Dick Wolf's Law & Order, and there's still compelling, topical cases every week and ethical and moral dilemmas every week, but I think that we're trying, on certain episodes, to dig just a little bit deeper into who our people are and see how their personal lives intersect with their professional lives."

The season has already seen the introduction of new cast member Maura Tierney (ER, The Affair), who joins the hit series as Lieutenant Jessica Brady, replacing Camryn Manheim's Lieutenant Kate Dixon.

But when exactly is Law & Order season 24 returning in the US? Read on to find out.

Law & Order season 24 release date

The 24th season of Law & Order premiered in the US on NBC on Thursday 3rd October 2024 at 8pm.

After going a mid-season break, season 24 returns to screens on Thursday 16th January 2025 at 8pm, followed by Law & Order: SVU season 26.

While US fans have been able to enjoy season 24, there's no UK release date for the run just yet.

However, we can expect that Law & Order season 24 will air on 5USA – but it could be some time before it comes to screens on this side of the pond, as seasons 22 and 23 are still yet to air.

Law & Order season 24 cast: Who stars?

The cast for season 24 looks a little different after the departure of Camryn Manheim as Lieutenant Kate Dixon. Manheim had joined the show in season 21 after having smaller roles in the first few seasons of the series, but her departure was confirmed ahead of season 24's release.

On the announcement of her exit, series creator Dick Wolf said: "I thank Camryn for her three wonderful seasons helping us relaunch Law & Order. She is a class act and I wish her nothing but the best for her next chapter."

Dixon was the commanding officer of the Manhattan North Homicide Squad’s 27th Precinct, so Maura Tierney has come in to fill her shoes as the show's new lieutenant, Jessica Brady.

New Amsterdam's Ryan Eggold has also joined the new season of Law & Order in a guest role capacity as the brother of Detective Vincent Riley (Reid Scott), Matt Riley.

It's also been confirmed that Law & Order: SVU's Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and defence attorney Rita Calhoun (Elizabeth Marvel) will be appearing in the series in guest roles.

The full cast list for Law & Order season 24 is as follows:

• Maura Tierney as Lieutenant Jessica Brady
• Tony Goldwyn as District Attorney Nicholas Baxter
• Hugh Dancy as Executive Assistant District Attorney Nolan Price
• Odelya Halevi as Assistant District Attorney Samantha Maroun
• Mehcad Brooks as Detective Jalen Shaw
• Reid Scott as Detective Vincent Riley

What is Law & Order season 24 about?

As has been the case for the past 23 seasons, Law & Order's beloved approach to tackling stories is to cover the investigation from the NYPD's perspective and also from a legal standpoint, usually in the court room with the help of the Manhattan District Attorney's office.

This season is ever so slightly different as Tierney's new lieutenant takes charge following the departure of Dixon. The new boss doesn't spare any time mincing her words, so there could very well be some tension on the horizon as she gets to know her team.

On Tierney's new character, showrunner Rick Eid told NBC Insider: "It’s a little unsettling to have a new boss come in that they don’t know, and they don’t really love bosses. On top of that, the character Maura plays isn’t particularly warm and fuzzy and inviting."

With the team adjusting to their new boss, we can also anticipate some further exploration of Riley's personal life, as his brother is set to appear in the new season.

There's also set to be some major fallout for Baxter, who will have won the election by season 24 but after a dark secret being exposed about his daughter last season, we'll just have to wait and see what repercussions that has for Baxter's marriage and political future.

The official log line for the mid-season premiere reads: "Shaw and Riley discover a shocking motive after a young man is pushed in front of a train; when the trial hinges on a piece of legislation that Baxter wrote, Price must convince Baxter to testify to the legislation's uses and abuses."

Is there a trailer for Law & Order season 24?

There is!

Paired with footage from the upcoming new season of Law & Order: SVU, you can catch your sneak peek at Law & Order season 24 below.

Law & Order season 24 will return in the US on NBC on Thursday 16th January 2025 at 8pm.

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