Law And Order Boss Talks Starting 2026 With A ‘Two-Hour, Movie-Type’ Crossover With SVU’s Olivia Benson

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As a big fan of the Law & Order franchise, I’m really excited that the winter break is almost over! NBC’s Law & Order and SVU are coming back with the 2026 season, and they’re kicking things off with a two-hour crossover event. The promo definitely got SVU fans buzzing about seeing Ice-T as Fin again, but Rick Eid, the showrunner for Law & Order, has given us a little sneak peek at what the actual case will be about.

Both Law & Order and another Dick Wolf series are back on NBC with new episodes starting Thursday, January 8th. Law & Order will begin the night at 8 p.m. Eastern, with a case involving Brady witnessing a crime and a woman disappearing from the hospital after being injured.

I’m so excited to hear that Olivia Benson and Amanda Rollins are going to be working with the Special Victims Unit! Apparently, a huge discovery is going to put both teams in serious danger. Rick Eid talked about what’s bringing them together for this crossover – it’s interesting because things were a little tense between them last time they teamed up, and it’s all happening soon!

Maura Tierney and Mariska Hargitay have great chemistry, and everyone enjoyed watching them work together. So, the writers decided to build a storyline around their dynamic, exploring a situation from both of their characters’ viewpoints. The idea felt right, and they developed the story with that in mind.

During their last meeting in spring 2025, the bosses from the two police shows didn’t quite see eye-to-eye. Benson became too involved in a case, stepping into Brady’s area of responsibility. According to show writer Rick Eid, the actresses who play Benson and Brady enjoy working together, and this next two-part episode will focus on their dynamic. Because the case involves Special Victims Unit, it likely means the crime Brady witnesses will involve a sexual offense.

According to the showrunner, this two-part crossover event will be more than just a typical pairing of Law & Order and SVU episodes with a shared storyline. He hinted that the promo’s dramatic scenes foreshadow significantly higher stakes for the characters involved.

When we create these longer, more cinematic episodes, we aim for a big, exciting feel. These crossover events are different from regular episodes of ‘Law & Order’ or ‘Law & Order: SVU’ – we really try to step up the story and the production quality. Basically, yes, you can expect a lot of action and explosions! [Laughs]

Considering everything, this upcoming crossover feels like the most important one in the series since the 2023 event involving Law & Order: SVU and Law & Order: Organized Crime, which resulted in a main character’s death. While it doesn’t necessarily mean a major character will die this time, the potential consequences for New York City seem much greater than they were when Benson and Brady last worked together.

Those two women made a powerful team during their first team-up, and it’ll be exciting to see what they do together this time. Here’s a sneak peek in the video below:

This special event will launch the winter TV season in 2025-2026. After Law & Order: SVU, The Hunting Party will return for its second season, taking the place of Law & Order: Organized Crime. Melissa Roxburgh has highlighted why The Hunting Party is a good show to watch on Peacock before the new season begins. It will be interesting to see if the viewership from Law & Order: Organized Crime continues with The Hunting Party, especially since it stars a former cast member from Manifest.

With NBC’s big crossover event coming up on January 8th, you can get ready by rewatching past episodes of Law & Order and SVU. Both shows are streaming on Peacock, or you can find them on Hulu if you don’t have a Peacock subscription.

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2025-12-30 03:08