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Reid Scott Leaving ‘Law & Order’, James Badge Dale To Succeed Him In Season 26 Of NBC Drama
Reid Scott is departing NBC's "Law & Order" after three seasons as Senior Detective Vincent Riley, with James Badge Dale ("13 Hours", "1923") set to take over as a new Senior Detective. The change continues the long-running procedural's tradition of annual cast turnover, and marks another high-profile swap for a show that regularly refreshes its ensemble. Scott's exit is reportedly his own decision, driven by the toll of commuting cross-country and spending nine months a year away from his family while filming in New York, and both sides describe the departure as amicable.
Scott, believed to have one more year left on his contract, is returning to set to film additional episodes that will properly conclude Det. Riley's storyline before Dale's character is introduced, though the exact timing of the handover has not been confirmed. Riley had most recently been paired with Junior Detective Theo Walker (David Ajala), having previously worked alongside Jalen Shaw (Mehcad Brooks, who left last summer); Scott himself had replaced Jeffrey Donovan in the role. Dale will join returning cast members Tony Goldwyn, Hugh Dancy, Maura Tierney, Odelya Halevi and Ajala when Season 26 premieres on 8 October at 10pm, immediately after the "Law & Order: SVU" season opener.
In short
- Reid Scott is leaving "Law & Order" after three seasons as Det. Riley.
- James Badge Dale will replace him as a new Senior Detective.
- Scott's exit, driven by family/commuting strain, is amicable; Season 26 starts 8 October.
Explained simply
Law & Order is a television drama that has been running since 1990, following police detectives and prosecutors as they investigate and prosecute crimes in New York City. The show is known for regularly changing its cast, with actors typically staying for several years before moving on to other projects.
Reid Scott is an actor who has played a senior detective on the show for the past three years. He has decided to leave because of the demands of filming in New York for nine months each year, which has meant extended periods away from his family.
James Badge Dale, known for his roles in the film '13 Hours' and the television series '1923', has been cast to replace him. The show will air additional episodes to conclude Scott's character's storyline before introducing the new character, continuing its tradition of carefully managing cast transitions.
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