NBC Announces Return of 'Law & Order: SVU' and the Show's Spin-Off Featuring Christopher Meloni

Fans of "Law & Order: SVU" are in for a swell time in the months to come following the announcement of NBC's schedule for the 2020-2021 season, which includes the show's spin-off, featuring Christopher Meloni.

There is a long list of hit dramas, beloved comedies, and other powerhouse alternative programming in NBC's newly released schedule. It features the return of "Law & Order: SVU," and it's a spin-off, "Law & Order: Organized Crime," where Christopher Meloni will reprise his role as Elliot Stabler.

Other highlights of the schedule will see Gwen Stefani making her return to "The Voice," where she will join other coaches, Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, Blake Shelton, and the show host, Carson Daly, for season 19.

"Law & Order: Organized Crime" will launch in the fall of 2020, and with Meloni's billed return, marks the first time he will be portraying the character of Elliot Stabler since he last played it in the twelfth season of "Law & Order: SVU" in 2011.

The new series will follow Stabler's return to the New York Police Department, where he will battle organized crime after suffering a heartbreaking personal loss.

Following his return, Stabler quickly learns that things had changed in the city and the police department since his departure a decade ago. This means that he must adapt to these changes, especially in the criminal justice system, which is still experiencing a moment of reckoning.

"Law & Order: Organized Crime" also follows Stabler's journey as he searches for absolution while attempting to rebuild his life and also leading a new elite squad tasked with defeating the most powerful criminal rings in the city.

Leight also said that changes had been made to the SVU Writers Room for the show's 21st season.

The NBC schedule for the Fall of 2020 comprises series that have not yet filmed their new seasons, with the new "Law & Order" spin-off marking the only change in schedule.

Fans have highly anticipated the spin-off, and it will air on Thursday nights at 10 pm, after the flagship, SVU, which will start at 9 pm. Other shows on Thursday nights include "Superstore," starting at 8 pm, and "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," beginning at 8:30 pm.

Meanwhile, with the death of George Floyd in the hands of law enforcement officers and the protests that followed afterward, "Law & Order" showrunner, Warren Leight, revealed that SVU, will on its return, tackle the events that have occured in 2020, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

Leight also said that changes had been made to the SVU Writers Room for the show's 21st season, with one of those changes being the hiring of writers without any television writing experience.

The showrunner said that he put together a new staff, making a conscious effort to bring in new and different voices, resulting in a radically different Writers Room than he has ever put together in the past.

Added to the new writers, Leight further revealed that he invites various artists to speak to the writers, and disclosed that he was in touch with "Color of Change" in regards to SVU's upcoming season.