Law And Order’s Upcoming Spinoff Isn’t Getting A Backdoor Pilot, But The Star Has Already Been All Over The Franchise

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In the 2025 fall TV lineup, some highly popular shows from network television are making a comeback on NBC, such as Law & Order and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Interestingly, Law & Order: Organized Crime is also returning with reruns to reestablish NBC’s Thursday Law & Order block. Additionally, another Law & Order series will air during the fall season, though not on NBC. Instead, Law & Order: Toronto: Criminal Intent, which features a well-known actress from the extensive Dick Wolf TV universe, will be available in the US through The CW.

The television series titled Law & Order: Toronto – Criminal Intent represents a fresh perspective on the popular American spin-off, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, which originally aired for ten seasons and almost 200 episodes as part of the original series. Debuting on Citytv in Canada in 2024, it became the top primetime premiere on Citytv and the most successful drama debut that season. The first season is now airing on The CW, with its premiere episode scheduled for September 24.

This new show isn’t going to be like “SVU” or “Organized Crime,” which had significant ties to their precursor shows, and it wasn’t introduced in Canada through a backdoor pilot, a common practice in the “Law & Order” and broader Wolf Entertainment universe. Instead, it might have a unique origins story.

As a dedicated movie enthusiast, I’d say this show feels unique, except for one familiar beacon – Kathleen Munroe. She shines as Detective Sergeant Frankie Bateman in the Specialized Criminal Investigation Unit. You might recognize her from beyond just the Law & Order corner of the Wolf universe, extending to the NBC’s One Chicago trilogy and even CBS’s FBI series. Before diving into L&O Toronto, Kathleen has already left an impressive mark on the Wolf franchise with her previous roles.

  • Law & Order: SVU Season 19, Episode 3 – Evelyn Bundy (2017)
  • Chicago Med Season 5, Episode 4 – Dr. Andrea Danover (2019)
  • Chicago P.D. Season 7, Episode 4 – Dr. Andrea Danover (2019)
  • FBI Season 3 – Season 4 – SAC Rina Trenholm (2019)
  • Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 3, Episodes 12 and 13 – D.A. Rika Harold (2023)

Kathleen Munroe is set to appear in her sixth series within the Law & Order franchise, which includes shows like Law & Order, SVU, Organized Crime, Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., Chicago Med, FBI, FBI: Most Wanted, and FBI: International (prior to their cancellations). Although this will be her fifth distinct character, she may be most known for her roles on FBI and Law & Order: Organized Crime. Frankie Bateman is the new character she’ll portray in Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent.

In the third and fourth seasons of FBI, Kathleen Munroe’s character met a sad fate that left a significant impact. This shocking turn of events made it easy for me to identify her when she appeared in Law & Order: Organized Crime a couple of years later, even though her character on OC was not linked to the one she played in FBI’s Rina. (It’s worth noting that both shows are set in New York, but their characters are separate entities.)

It’s worth noting that it’s not uncommon for actors to portray multiple characters within the same series, as evidenced by the number of characters played across the American Law & Order shows, which counts in the double digits. For instance, Jeremy Sisto and Alana De La Garza were regulars on different Law & Order shows before joining FBI together. In light of the trailer for Law & Order Toronto: Organized Crime, it’s unlikely that anyone will mistake her new character with those she has played within the franchise previously. Here is a glimpse of the new series:

The TV series “Law & Order: Criminal Intent (Toronto)” focuses on Detective Sergeant Frankie Bateman, portrayed by Kathleen Munroe, and Detective Sergeant Henry Graff, played by Aden Young. They delve into intricate investigations of significant homicides in Canada’s largest city, employing psychological strategies to uncover the minds of criminals. The cases they tackle often revolve around finance, politics, real estate, and media sectors.

It remains uncertain whether the upcoming Toronto-based series in the franchise will include the famous “DUN DUN” or theme song, a tune so iconic that creator Dick Wolf even used it as his ringtone. Discover how the Canadian procedural measures up against its U.S. counterparts when Law & Order: Toronto – Criminal Intent premieres on Wednesday, September 24 at 8 p.m. ET on The CW. The second season will air on The CW in 2026.

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2025-08-25 06:08