Law & Order: SVU season 20 to spawn new Hate Crimes series
Today, NBC confirmed that they have ordered a thirteen-episode series that is based on the actual New York Hate Crimes Task Force, described as the “second oldest bias-based task force in the U.S. The unit, which pledges to uphold a zero tolerance policy against discrimination of any kind, works under the NYPD’s real Special Victims Unit and often borrows SVU’s detectives to assist in their investigations.”
Basically, this is an opportunity to create a new universe from SVU and give the show something that it can work alongside, which is similar in some ways to what One Chicago has. While we know that SVU is in the same universe as those shows, it is rather difficult to find ways to make something work there. It’s what happens when you are doing two separate stories set in different cities.
This series is co-created by Dick Wolf alongside former SVU showrunner Warren Leight. Check out what the two parties had to say on the matter in a statement.
Wolf – “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 … 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.”
Leight – “I’m extremely impressed by the actual men and women investigating these cases in a city as complicated and diverse as New York. 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.”
What do you think about the idea of Law & Order: Hate Crimes as a series, and are you excited to check it out? Be sure to share right now in the comments!
(Photo: NBC.)