'Law & Order' and 'SVU' Prepare To Return in New Joint Trailer

It's always nice to know TV's best cops are back on the beat. Law & Order and Law & Order: SVU return on Thursday, Oct 3, and they're celebrating with a joint trailer honoring both long-running shows. While the trailer, which debuted on People, features new footage, it also shows the actors reflecting on the franchise as themselves. In a chat with Mariska Hargitay, Tony Goldwyn—who plays Law & Order's new DA Nicholas Baxter—explains, "We both work on shows that are seeing our criminal justice system at work." Hargitay shares that she's had the "privilege" of connecting with people who thank her for telling their story. "I think the show has shed a beautiful light, because these crimes thrive in darkness, and it's the light that heals it."

The trailer also features L&O stars Reid Scott, Mehcad Brooks, Hugh Dancy and Odelya Halevi, while SVU stars Ice-T and Peter Scanavino appear alongside newcomer Juliana Aiden Martinez, who plays new SVU detective Kate Silva. "To be on a show where we get to invest in women's stories I think is investing in progress," she shares.

Related: Everything to Know About Law & Order Season 26

As is typical of the Law & Order franchise, there are a few shakeups heading into the new seasons. Sam Waterston officially retired as DA Jack McCoy last season on Law & Order, and Scandal star Goldwyn took over the gig as Nicholas Baxter. Camryn Manheim, who played Lieutenant Kate Dixon, exited at the end of Season 23, and while Dixon's resignation has yet to be explained, she's already got a replacement. Maura Tierney joins the show for Season 24 as new lieutenant Jessica Brady, who starts off on shaky ground with Dixon's confused former colleagues.

On SVU, Martinez joins the team as Jr. Detective Kate Silva, a former homicide detective with a family legacy in policing to uphold. And while Kelli Giddish won't be back full time as Detective Amanda Rollins, she will be returning for the occasional episode. Rollins has a new job in the Intelligence Unit of the NYPD, which will involve a lot of travel but will hopefully give her the new direction she needed.

Law & Order and SVU return Thursday, Oct 3 at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. respectively. Law & Order: Organized Crime will return at a later date on Peacock.

Next, here's everything to know about Law & Order: SVU Season 26.