Jeremy Sisto Lays Down the Law

Fri., Jun. 1, 2007 1:05 PM PDT by Gina Serpe

Such is the casting turnover on Law & Order that the granddaddy of crime procedurals has been forced to double-dip to replace an outgoing character.

Jeremy Sisto, who guest-starred on last month's season finale as a defense attorney, has been promoted to series regular in an all-new incarnation.

NBC confirmed Friday to E! News that the actor will return next season as an entirely different character, this time flexing his acting muscles on the other side of the bum-bum as a detective.

"I've watched Jeremy's career evolve and grow, and I am absolutely thrilled that he has decided to join Law & Order," franchise mastermind Dick Wolf said in a statement.

No details have yet been released about the role to be played by the 32-year-old former Six Feet Under star, but he is expected to fill the void left by Milena Govich.

Earlier this week, the Hollywood Reporter claimed that Govich, who has played the less than memorable Detective Nina Cassady on the series for the past two years, would likely not return.

The trade paper also noted that producers were expected to add three new characters to the long-running show come this fall—two detectives, with Sisto filling one of the slots, and one district attorney.

Jesse L. Martin, who has played Detective Ed Green on the series for eight years and counting, is expected to remain on the show.

The new ADAs, meanwhile, will reportedly fill the void left by Sam Waterson's Jack McCoy, who is expected to be promoted now that Fred Thompson's District Attorney Arthur Branch is quitting.

Thompson, who has starred on the crime drama for the past five seasons, announced this week that he would not be returning to the NBC show to consider a possible White House run.

The musical chairs casting is nothing new for the series, which has been through more than its share of players over the years.

Since Jerry Orbach's death in 2004, Dennis Farina and Govich have both logged time in the law side of the show. Benjamin Bratt, Chris Noth, Paul Sorvino and George Dzundza have also worked the beat. The order side of the show boasts an equally high turnover rate, with Anna Parisse, Elisabeth Röhm, Angie Harmon, Jill Hennessy, Steven Hill, Richard Brooks, Michael Moriarty and Dianne Wiest among those logging time.

NBC brought back Law & Order for an 18th season after Wolf agreed to cut costs on the drama. Wolf has stated that he wants his franchise show to top Gunsmoke's 20-year run to become the longest-running show in prime-time history.

The new season kicks off in January.