Law and Order SVU gets new showrunner for season 21
Law and Order SVU showrunner Michael Chernuchin is leaving the series; find out who will be replacing him for SVU season 21.
Michael Chernuchin is exiting as showrunner of Law & Order: SVU after two seasons.
Deadline reported Monday that Chernuchin, who took over running Special Victims Unit after the cancellation of Chicago Justice, will be leaving the show at the end of this season.
His replacement is Warren Leight, who previously served as showrunner from SVU season 13 to season 17.
No specific reason was given for Chernuchin’s departure, but he’ll be moving over to another Dick Wolf property. He’ll become an executive producer on FBI, though not the showrunner; that series will still be run by Rick Eid, who’ll continue to balance the CBS series with running Chicago PD.
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The move is interesting for a number of reasons. The showrunner is the most important behind the scenes role on any TV show, and SVU has been turning them over recently.
Chernuchin only lasted two seasons, and before him, Eid served just one season in the role. Leight was the last long-term showrunner the series has had, so his return could provide some stability.
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It also means a change at FBI. Eid and Chicago Fire co-creator Derek Haas were named co-showrunners of the series in November; however, Haas wasn’t mentioned in Monday’s announcement, so perhaps he’s no longer involved with the show—and back to focusing all his efforts on the One Chicago franchise.
Most importantly, Michael Chernuchin leaving Special Victims Unit signals the end of an SVU era. His departure comes less than a month after star Philip Winchester confirmed he’s leaving the show, meaning that both the showrunner and the actor who came over from Chicago Justice are now gone.
It sounds like the series tried a new direction the last few years and now it’s going back to a tried and true approach for its 21st season. Leight is the producer who rebuilt SVU around the character of Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay), who continues to be the driving force behind the show and one of the most popular characters on TV.
The show is in capable hands for a benchmark season, and at least Michael Chernuchin is staying in the Dick Wolf organization.
Next. Read our interview with FBI star Jeremy Sisto. dark
For the latest SVU season 21 spoilers and news, plus more on all of Dick Wolf’s other series, follow the Dick Wolf category at One Chicago Center.