‘Law & Order’ Shakeup: Reid Scott Exits & James Badge Dale Replaces Him in Season 26
What To Know
- Reid Scott, who plays Detective Vincent Riley, will exit Law & Order in Season 26, with James Badge Dale joining as his replacement.
- The NBC drama is moving to a new time slot, airing Thursdays at 10/9c, this fall.
Since returning from the 12-year break between Seasons 20 and 21, Law & Order has been switching it up when it comes to the police investigating the crimes, and it will do so again for its 26th season, premiering on Thursday, October 8. (The series is making another big change, moving to 10/9c, airing after Law & Order: SVU, rather than leading into it.)
Detective Theo Walker (David Ajala) will be getting a new parter in Season 26, with Reid Scott (Detective Vincent Riley) set to exit and James Badge Dale replacing him as a senior detective, Deadline reports. However, there is something different about this exit than previous ones — Anthony Anderson (Detective Kevin Bernard), Jeffrey Donovan (Detective Frank Cosgrove), and Mehcad Brooks (Detective Jalen Shaw) — at the start of a season.
While in the past, character exits have been explained in-episode with a couple lines of dialogue, Scott is going to be in “a few episodes” during which Riley will be written out. Given that him leaving is said to be Scott’s choice, due to the series filming in New York, and “amicable,” according to Deadline, we have a feeling that Riley won’t be killed off so the door is open for a future return.
What will be interesting is seeing if Scott crosses over with Dale at all in Season 26, since that has yet to happen with the aforementioned exits and replacements. There’s also the possibility that there are some episodes between Scott’s exit and Dale’s debut in which we’ll see Walker working with Lieutenant Jessica Brady (Maura Tierney) in the field, much like we saw Riley with her before Ajala’s debut in Season 25.
We’ll also have to wait to see what Walker’s dynamic is like with Dale’s detective. After all, he and Riley didn’t get off to the best start. The circumstances under which Riley leaves and the new character joins is sure to play a role in that.
How do you think Law & Order will write out Riley? Let us know in the comments section below.
Law & Order, Season 26 Premiere, Thursday, October 8, 10/9c, NBC
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M
The two best detectives on this show were Lennie Briscoe and Ed Greene. They had such great chemistry together.
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V
I liked Kevin Bernard and Frank Cosgrove.
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P
Sorry to see him go.
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V
This would of been the perfect opportunity to partner Det Theo Walker with Elliot Stabler since Organized Crime got cancelled.
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R
The issue if probably the money..........Chris Meloni is now too big of a star and commands too large of a salary to be part of an ensemble.
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V
Good point Rob!
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N
With each passing season of this revived Law & Order, the ensemble edges closer to recapturing the magic of its finest years — but one casting decision continues to undermine that progress.
Odelya Halevi was simply never right for this role. Listen critically to how her voice records on screen — it lacks the authority and presence that network television demands. Beyond that, her performance consistently falls flat in ways that are impossible to ignore. She can only roll her eyes, or looked worried one way and thats it.
Consider the remarkable women who have held this role before her. The comparison is not kind.
The moment Halevi appears on screen, the energy of everyone watching diminishes — and that is perhaps the most damning indictment of a cast member that exists in television.
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S
The writers have done a total dis-service to this character. All she does is complain. She should quit and become a defense attorney. I don't think it's the actress, I think it's the writing. She could leave today and I'd be thrilled.
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