Mehcad Brooks will not be returning toLaw & Orderfor its 25th season. Brooks played Detective Jalen Shaw for three seasons, replacing Anthony Anderson in 2022. The actor, who was previously seen on ABC’sDesperate Housewivesand who will reprise his role as Jax in the upcomingMortal Kombat II, was a favorite amongLaw & Orderfans.
Brooks' exit was reported byDeadline. His decision to leave the show was reportedly mutual and due to a desire to explore other acting opportunities. Brooks' exit from the franchise marks the third departure of a detective character since the show’s revival in 2022, following both Anderson and Jeffrey Donovan.
Another Detective Position Has Opened Up At The 15th Precinct
With Mehcad Brooks' exit fromLaw & Order, the franchise now has another opportunity to introduce a new character to the franchise. The show, returning to the airwaves in 2022 after a 12-year hiatus, has seen multiple cast members leave, including Camryn Manheim and Sam Waterston.
Reid Scott, who replaced Jeffrey Donovan inLaw & Orderseason 23, as well as Maura Tierney, Tony Goldwyn, Hugh Dancy, and Odelya Halevi are scheduled to return, according to theDeadlinereport. This makes Brooks' departure an even more significant shakeup for the series given the return of the other principal cast members, whose dynamics will undergo a shift due to the absence of Shaw’s character.
Law & Orderseason 25will also feature fewer episodes than previous seasons as part of NBC’s budget cuts. It will only have 13 episodes, making it one of the shortest seasons yet in the show’s long-running history. Most of the show’s seasons have had 22 episodes, including the most recent one, season 24.
A Goodbye That Feels Too Soon For A Favorite Cast Member
It’s a disappointing announcement forLaw & Orderfans, as Mehcad Brooks felt like he was just starting to settle into his position in the 15th Precinct as Jalen Shaw. One of the most exciting elements in the upcoming seasons was going to be seeing how Shaw continued to develop as a character, along with the relationships he has with the rest of the team.
A sudden exit of a main character is an inevitability for a procedural series, but this particular departure will still take some getting used to byLaw & Orderfans.
Although unexpected, it’s another exit from the legendary franchise that feels like it’s had a revolving door of exits since it first aired in 1990, and fans will now need to adjust to a new detective. A sudden exit of a main character is an inevitability for a procedural series, but this particular departure will still take some getting used to byLaw & Orderfans.
