For nearly 30 years, the Law & Order franchise has been a major hit on the small screen.
Although fans can re-watch episodes of the original show and its spin-offs to their heart's content via syndication and DVD box sets, Law & Order: SVU is the only series still on air.
But, it won't be that way for long.
On September 4, the franchise's creator Dick Wolf - who's also the creator of the Chicago dramas, Fire, P.D., and Med - announced a new spin-off series will air on NBC, with 13 episodes already ordered.
"As with all of my crime shows, I want to depict what's really going on in our cities and shine a light on the wide-ranging victims and show that justice can prevail," Wolf said in a statement.
"Twenty years ago when SVU began, very few people felt comfortable coming forward and reporting these crimes, but when you bring the stories into people's living rooms "” with characters as empathetic as Olivia Benson "” a real dialogue can begin."
"That's what I hope we can do with this new show in a world where hate crimes have reached an egregious level."
The series will be based on the New York Police Department's real-life Hate Crimes Task Force, and according to The Hollywood Reporter, it will feature guest appearances by the cast of SVU.
The series will be introduced during an episode of SVU's forthcoming season, which means the full Hate Crimes series will most likely air sometime in 2019.
"As Law & Order: SVU enters its remarkable 20th season, it is exciting to get back into business with Dick Wolf on a new Law & Order incarnation that feels extremely timely," said Lisa Katz, Co-President of Scripted Programming, NBC Entertainment.
"Considering that last year there was a double-digit rise in hate crimes in our 10 largest cities "” the highest total in over a decade "” it seemed like this topic is begging to be explored."
Katz isn't the only one thrilled for the next chapter of the popular franchise, as Wolf's co-creator Warren Leight also expressed his excitement over the show's premise.
"I'm extremely impressed by the actual men and women investigating these cases in a city as complicated and diverse as New York," Leight said.
"The work they are doing puts them on the front lines in a battle for the soul of our city and nation. I'm thrilled about the chance to reunite with Dick and NBC to portray the reality of this crisis."
Hate Crimes will be the seventh show within the beloved franchise, which includes the original show, along with SVU, Criminal Intent and the short-lived spin-offs Trial by Jury, Law & Order: Los Angeles, and True Crime.
[H/T: Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter]
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