Law & Order star Anthony Anderson explained why he departed the new revival series after just one season.
It was confirmed in May that the actor would not return as Detective Kevin Bernard, who he had previously played in season 18, after appearing in season 21 as he had only originally signed a one-year deal.
Anderson explained his exit to ET: "I wanted to go off and create more shows like Black-ish, create things that I have ownership in, and do something a little bit different."
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He also discussed his future plans: "We're going out and pitching another drama called Miraculous, which I'm excited about, so looking forward to what that's going to do."
The 22nd season was confirmed a few months ago alongside fellow shows Law & Order: SVU and Law & Order: Organized Crime also getting renewed.
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"The iconic Law & Order brand has long been synonymous with NBC and we couldn't be more excited to bring back all three of these dramas for the 2022-23 season," said Lisa Katz, president of scripted programming at NBCU Entertainment and Streaming.
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"It's a testament to the brilliance of Dick Wolf's storytelling that audiences remain compelled by these unforgettable characters week after week, year after year."
Following Anderson's departure, Law & Order is set to feature an epic crossover of the main series, Law & Order: SVU and Law & Order: Organized Crime.
The event will commence each season of the respective shows on September 22 and will be the first time a crossover has happened.
Law & Order airs on NBC. Law & Order: SVU airs Thursdays on NBC in the US. The show airs on Sky Witness in the UK, with select episodes available on NOW.
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Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.
