With season 25 of Law & Order having come to an end in the US, a cast change over has been confirmed, with Senior Detective Vincent Riley star Reid Scott leaving the show.
Scott has been a part of the series since season 23, and news of his departure was was first reported by Deadline. The publication confirmed that he will be seen in the show’s upcoming season 26, with his character’s arc being wrapped up in the opening episodes.
The publication also reported that Scott’s departure was his own decision and amicable, and was related to the strain caused by a cross-country commute and being away from his family. His exit was amicable.
Thankfully, fans won’t have to wait long until a new Senior Detective is introduced, with 24 and 1923 star James Badge Dale joining as a new character in the position.
Dale will be joining returning cast members including Tony Goldwyn, Hugh Dancy, Maura Tierney, Odelya Halevi and David Ajala.
Law & Order originally aired for 20 seasons at NBC before it was unexpectedly canceled in 2010. Spin-offs continued, and the mainline series was resurrected in 2022.
Spin-off series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is still ongoing, with a 28th season of that show on the way. Another series in the franchise, Organised Crime, was axed after five seasons on NBC and Peacock earlier this year.
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Dale has previously had roles in films including Iron Man 3, World War Z, The Lone Ranger, 13 Hours, The Empty Man and Violent Ends.
He is also in the cast of The Savant, an Apple TV drama starring Jessica Chastain which was delayed from its September 2025 release date. In April of this year, Chastain confirmed that a release was still planned for the series, but a date has yet to be confirmed.
Law & Order season 26 will air in the US on NBC. Season 24 is currently available to watch on 5 in the UK.
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Authors
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
