There’s a ‘Law & Order’ Show You’ve Probably Never Heard Of — Here’s How to Watch It
When it comes to TV franchises, few are as enduring as Law & Order. The OG show premiered in 1990, and its stories of crime and justice in New York City quickly became a TV staple. Various spinoffs soon followed, including Law & Order: SVU (which has since eclipsed the original show in number of seasons), Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and Law & Order: Organized Crime.
Die-hard fans may even remember the less successful shows in the Law & Order universe, including a short-lived series set in Los Angeles and Law & Order: Trial By Jury, which focused on the legal aspect of the criminal justice system. But viewers may not be aware of the newest entrant in the Law & Order world – an adaption of Law & Order: Criminal Intent set in Toronto.
‘Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Toronto’ premieres in Fall 2025 on The CW
Most American TV viewers likely haven’t heard of Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Toronto, given that it hasn’t been available to watch in the U.S. The show debuted in February 2024 on Citytv in Canada, with season 2 premiering earlier this year.
Now, The CW is bringing Criminal Intent: Toronto to U.S. television. The network recently announced that it had picked up two seasons of the show, with the first 10 episodes set to premiere in Fall 2025. An exact premiere date has not yet been announced.
The show follows the same format as the original Criminal Intent. It focuses on detectives from a major case squad unit in the Toronto Police Department as they investigate high-profile crimes in Canada’s largest city. “Their unique investigative skills are showcased through psychological tactics, with a heavy focus on the motives and actions of the criminals. These cases delve into the worlds of high finance, politics, real estate, media, and more,” according to The CW’s description of the series. It stars Aden Young, Kathleen Munroe, K.C. Collins, and Karen Robinson.
“Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent is the next gripping chapter of one of the greatest and most recognizable broadcast television brands of all time, and we can’t wait to bring this series to The CW this fall,” said Brad Schwartz, President, The CW Network.
“See you soon USA,” Munroe, who plays Detective Sergeant Frankie Batement, wrote on Instagram after the news was announced.
Not sure how to watch The CW? You can find your local broadcast station here. You can also stream The CW for free on the channel’s app.
This isn’t the first international adaptation of ‘Law & Order’
Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Toronto is not the first international adaptation in Law & Order franchise history.
A Moscow-set version of Criminal Intent aired in Russia from 2007 to 2011, as did another show inspired by Special Victims Unit. In 2007, a version of Law & Order set in Paris and adapted to the French legal system premiered. It aired for three seasons in France.
Law & Order: UK aired for eight seasons from 2009 to 2014 on ITV, with episodes following detectives and crown prosecutors in London. It’s currently streaming on AMC+.
For more news and exclusive interviews, follow Showbiz Cheat Sheet’s Instagram.
