NBC orders 'Law & Order: Los Angeles'

NBC has reportedly picked up Law & Order: Los Angeles, the fourth Law & Order franchise show to air on the network.

Brotherhood creator Blake Masters has signed to produce the series, which was given a 13-episode order, reports Deadline Hollywood.

Also, NBC is preparing to pick up a 12th season of Law & Order: Special Victim's Unit with stars Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni apparently lined up to return.

NBC is further expected to renew the original Law & Order for a landmark 21st season, pending an off-network deal with cabler TNT.

NBC and creator Dick Wolf are reportedly considering a number of high-profile actors for the lead roles in the latest Law & Order spinoff.

According to Deadline, Lucy Liu may be in line for a part in Law & Order: Los Angeles, while producers are searching for another "big-name" actor to play the character of ADA Peter Morales.

The new show apparently "follows closely the template of the other Law & Order series with two detectives, with fortysomething Rex Winters and thirtysomething TJ Jaruszalski at the center of the storyline, joined by a captain, a prosecutor, and his assistant".

Actors reportedly being considered for the two detective roles include former Jericho star Skeet Ulrich and FlashForward's Michael Ealy.

James Van Der Beek, Michael Rapaport, Dylan Walsh and Dean Cain are also said to have either auditioned or been approached for a role.

The new series will begin filming on July 22.

Jericho survivor Skeet Ulrich will play one of the two lead detectives on Law & Order: Los Angeles.

Ulrich’s character, Rex Winters, is described as an ex-Marine who possesses the natural intuition of a cop. His experience during the Rodney King riots — which occurred during his second month on the job — shaped his philosophy on police work. Basically, he believes the world is in chaos, and people are either good or bad. As an added twist, he’s married to his ex-partner.

Ulrich is the first actor to sign up for LOLA duty.

Veteran film actor Alfred Molina has joined the cast of the upcoming Law & Order: Los Angeles.

The 57-year-old actor, whose film credits include Spiderman 2 and An Education, will take on the role of Deputy District Attorney Morales in the latest edition of the long-running crime drama franchise.

The show's creator, Dick Wolf, released a statement on Saturday saying that he was "thrilled" to have Molina join the new spin-off.

The only other confirmed cast member thus far is former Jericho actor Skeet Ulrich, who will take on the role of Detective Rex Winters. A number of high-profile stars, including Lucy Liu and Michael Rapaport, are also reportedly being considered for roles.

Law & Order: Los Angeles will premiere this fall on NBC.

EW.com is reporting that Wanda De Jesus has just joined the new Dick Wolf drama, Law & Order: Los Angeles. She will play the captain of the Robbery Homicide Division, Arleen Gonzales. De Jesus joins the previously cast Regina Hall, Skeet Ulrich, Corey Stoll, Alfred Molina, and Terrence Howard.

I'd love to see some cast from the original L&O on this show

Cast details have been revealed for the premiere episode of new crime drama Law & Order: Los Angeles.

TV Guide reports that the instalment - titled 'Hollywood' - will feature Saw actress Shawnee Smith as Trudy, the mother of young Hollywood star Chelsea (Danielle Panabaker).

Wyatt Russell, son of real-life couple Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn, will play wannabe actor Sam, while Jim Beaver - Bobby Singer on Supernatural - has been cast as his father Frank.

The Mummy star Oded Fehr rounds out the cast as the villainous Manto.

It was previously reported that the first episode of the new spinoff would be based on the real-life 'Burglar Bunch' who stole from the homes of celebrities including Paris Hilton, Rachel Bilson and Orlando Bloom.

Law & Order: Los Angeles will premiere on September 29 on NBC.

Law & Order: Los Angeles producer Rene Balcer has revealed details of the show's lead characters.

He told TV Guide that Detective Ray Winters (Skeet Ulrich) will be inspired to become a better cop by past police failings.

"When he was a rookie, Winters witnessed the failure of the police both in the Rodney King incident and the first hours of the ensuing riots," explained Balcer. "It made him take his role as a cop more seriously and rely on himself more than his colleagues."

The producer added that Winters' partner Tomas 'TJ' Jaruszalski (Corey Stoll) will be a "younger guy" with a brighter outlook.

"[He] thinks that being a cop is probably the most fun that someone can legally have," he said. "His attitude is you get to match wits with the bad guys and go places that nobody ever sees."

Balcer further explained that Alfred Molina's character, DDA Ricardo Morales, will be "media savvy" with "a deep abiding sense of justice".

Law & Order: Los Angeles will premiere September 29 at 10/9c on NBC.

Teri Polo has also joined the cast

Three regular cast members will leave Law & Order: Los Angeles later this season as part of a series revamp.

Deadline reports that Skeet Ulrich (Detective Rex Winters), Regina Hall (Evelyn Price) and Megan Boone (Lauren Stanton) will all depart the show as part of a creative overhaul being orchestrated by creator Dick Wolf.

Filming on the show will apparently not be halted to accommodate the changes. Boone is thought to be exiting the show completely, while Hall may briefly return to the series prior to her exit.

Casting is said to be ongoing to find replacements for the departing stars.

Law & Order: Los Angeles returns to NBC on February 8.