'Chicago Law' Staffs Up As NBC Continues Expansion Of Dick Wolf's Successful Franchise

NBC's core three series are always referred to as "Sunday Night Football," "The Voice" and "The Blacklist" but to underestimate the value of what Dick Wolf's "Chicago" series bring to the table is short-sighted. The veteran showrunner now has four series on the air at NBC (counting the long-running "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit") and in the fall he'll likely have five. "Chicago Law" has long been expected to expand the "Chicago" franchise that includes "Chicago Fire," "Chicago P.D." and freshman hit "Chicago Med." In recent days the program has begun to shore up its background and investors should feel confident in what could be another major hit for the

-owned channel. "Law" will feature Philip Winchester, the charismatic co-lead of Cinemax's "Strike Back." Winchester's partner on "Strike" is Sullivan Stapleton, who is currently the co-lead of NBC's breakout fall hit "Blindspot." While investors may also recognize Winchester's name from another NBC fall series, the now cancelled "The Player," they shouldn't have any fear about a repeat. For one the "Chicago" brand is becoming akin to a Chuck Lorre series in that each installment is almost a surefire guarantee hit and for another "The Player" had a plot that while entertaining, wasn't rooted anywhere near reality and in turn wasn't well received. To ensure "Law" gets off on the right foot, Jean de Segonzac has been hired to direct the show's back-door pilot that will be shot as an episode of "Chicago PD" expected to air in late April or early May. Aside from being a well-known player in the world of Wolf's series, de Segonzac also helmed the pilots for "Law & Order" spin-offs "SVU" and "Criminal Intent."