It seems that Chicago PD will not be the only long-running Wolf Entertainment crime drama to be losing a key member of its cast this fall.
As first reported by Deadline, this fall Law & Order will be saying goodbye to Senior Detective Vincent Riley, with Reid Scott exiting the series in its upcoming 26th season. It’s the latest in what has been a revolving door for the long-running series, which has seen a number of high-profile cast exits since its revival back in 2022.
Since its revival with season 21, Law & Order has said goodbye to six series regulars, including Reid. Anthony Anderson left the show after just one season; Jeffrey Donovan left the series after season 22; Sam Waterston departed the show early in season 23; Camryn Manheim exited the series after season 23; and Mechad Brooks stepped away from the series after season 24.
Unlike the forthcoming exit of LaRoyce Hawkins from Chicago PD, this particular cast exit seems to be at the request of Reid and was not a creative decision made by the show. Deadline reports that Reid still had a year on his contract but asked to leave the show due to the difficulty the cross-country commute required of Reid due to the show filming in New York and being away from his family for the extended nine-month shooting schedule.
The good news is that it does sound like fans will be getting a proper on-screen exit from Reid.
Just as Chicago PD will be bringing Hawkins back for a few episodes in season 14 to wrap up Atwater’s storyline, Law & Order will bring Reid back as Riley for a sendoff arc. It is not yet known, though, how many episodes Reid will appear in before exiting the show.
While we don’t know when Reid will exit the series, we do already know who will be replacing him. NBC has reportedly cast actor James Badge Dale to join David Ajala’s Junior Detective Theo Walker. Dale’s character will not be introduced until after Reid’s exit, and character information is scarce, although it has been confirmed he will replace Reid as the new Senior Detective on the team.
Thankfully, it does sound like Reid will be the only one leaving Law & Order this fall. Ajala is slated to return, as are the show’s two remaining original cast members, Hugh Dancy and Odelya Halevi, as well as Tony Goldwyn and Maura Tierney.
Hopefully, Reid’s character will be written out of the show in a manner in which he could return down the line for a guest arc. Although his exit was sudden, his departure is said to have been amicable.
We’ll see how Law & Order chooses to write Reid out and how Dale’s new detective enters the picture when Law & Order season 26 premieres on Thursday, October 8, at its new time slot of 10/9c.
Add us as a preferred source on Google