‘Law & Order: Organized Crime’ Names Fifth Showrunner

Law & Order: Organized Crime has named its fifth showrunner.

Veteran showrunner John Shiban (Ozark, The X-Files) has been tapped to take over the helm of the fourth season of the Dick Wolf procedural. Shiban replaces David Graziano, with the SVU grad taking over the remainder of season three for Sean Jablonski.

Jablonski, who departed the Chris Meloni-led spinoff after creative differences, replaced Bryan Goluboff. The latter stepped in for Barry O’Brien, who was tapped as interim showrunner after original showrunner Ilene Chaiken departed.

Shiban joins Organized Crime after successful runs on Netflix’s Ozark, where he earned an Emmy nomination and WGA Award, and time on Hulu’s Shut Eye, The X-Files, Breaking Bad, DaVinci’s Demons, Hell on Wheels, The Vampire Diaries and Supernatural. As a director, he’s helmed episodes of Better Call Saul, NOS4A2 and Shut Eye.

L&O: Organized Crime is scheduled to return midseason on NBC, though it’s unclear precisely when “midseason” is, given the impact of both the writers strike and the ongoing performers work stoppage.

Dick Wolf and his Wolf Entertainment banner exec produces Organized Crime via his rich overall deal with Universal Television. Exec producers also include star Meloni, Wolf Entertainment’s Arthur W. Forney and Peter Jankowski as well as Shiban and Paul Cabbad.

Eight of Wolf’s nine broadcast scripted originals, save for Organized Crime, reopened writers rooms Oct. 4. New showrunners were also installed for NBC’s Chicago Fire and CBS’ FBI: International. With Shiban installed, Organized Crime will now chart the path to returning to work on scripts.