When does the new Law and Order start and who's in the reboot cast?

Beloved TV series Law and Order premiered back in 1990 and, after 20 seasons and 456 episodes on the air, NBC canceled the show—now the second-longest-running live-action scripted series in the history of television (SVU, an offshoot of the original Law and Order, currently holds that title). 

Now, nearly 12 years after the original installment of the franchise wrapped up, the show is returning to our TV screens on Thursday nights beginning this week. Fans everywhere are delighted about the new Law and Order reboot, which was originally announced back in September 2021.

"There are very few things in life that are literally dreams come true. This is mine," Dick Wolf, the creator of Law and Order, said about the show's return in an official statement. He will be producing the new series alongside Rick Eid, who also serves as writer and showrunner.

In terms of plot points, you can expect more of the same. "This will be season 21, so it's the same Law and Order everyone knows from the first 20 years," said Dick. "So there's really nothing to fix, we just want to continue telling great stories. We always approach storytelling the same way: good writing, acting and production values, and give the viewers what they want. That's been our mantra from day one." 

Dick also revealed that, just as was the case throughout the original run, there will be three cops and three D.A.s featured casting-wise.

WHEN DOES THE NEW LAW AND ORDER START

The first episode of the “reboot” (which is really being called season 21) aired on NBC on Thursday, February 24 at 8pm. New episodes will air weekly in that time slot.

LAW AND ORDER REBOOT CAST—WHO'S IN THE NEW SHOW?

Fans are just as thrilled about the return of the show as they are about its confirmed cast members. The iconic Sam Waterston will officially reprise the role of District Attorney Jack McCoy (he appeared on seasons 5 through 20). 

Although Sam mentioned feeling a bit anxious about potentially coming back to the show over a decade after it went off the air, the 81-year-old actor eventually proclaimed his excitement about the endeavor. "I'm so glad I didn't miss this chance, because you're racing through your life and you're in a big hurry all the time," he said to Variety. "You don't really get much opportunity to ever look at it or look back at it or look down at it at the height of it. You know, a life is a big deal."

Anthony Anderson, who played Detective Kevin Bernard on the show's last season, will also be returning. When queried about the project, the actor made his feelings regarding the series' original cancellation public. "I think had we not been unceremoniously cancelled 10-plus years ago, the show would still be on the air and we'd be going into our 31st, 32nd season," he said to PEOPLE. "That's what I like to think and believe and it feels great to be back."

The main cast is rounded out by a few new faces, including Jeffrey Donovan as Detective Frank Cosgrove, Camryn Manheim as Lieutenant Kate Dixon, Hugh Dancy as Executive Assistant District Attorney Nolan Price and Odelya Halevi as Assistant District Attorney Samantha Maroun.