Mehcad Brooks Departs Law & Order Before Season 25

Mehcad Brooks is leaving NBC's Law & Order after three seasons as Detective Jalen Shaw, ahead of the show's 25th season premiering this fall. His departure is described as mutual, as he pursues other opportunities, including roles in HBO Max's And Just Like That and the upcoming film Mortal Kombat II. The rest of the main cast—Tony Goldwyn, Reid Scott, Hugh Dancy, Odelya Halevi, and Maura Tierney—are all set to return. The show is actively casting a new detective to replace Brooks, who joined in 2022 after Anthony Anderson's exit. Law & Order continues to see cast changes, with similar transitions occurring across other series in the franchise. The series remains under the executive production of Dick Wolf.