Dick Wolf Reigns Over 9 Hours of Primetime TV on 2 Networks Thanks to ‘Law & Order,’ ‘FBI,’ and ‘One Chicago’ — With More to Come

There are a lot of iconic television producers in history – but few are more successful and prolific than Dick Wolf. The creator of such major shows as Law & Order: SVU and Chicago, Wolf has been a force in the entertainment industry for a long time. A member of the Television Academy Hall of Fame, Wolf is also a popular writer and creative force with big ideas about getting viewers to tune into new shows. In 2020, Wolf signed a landmark deal with Universal Television – a deal that was not only unprecedented for any TV producer but one that guaranteed viewers would be enjoying his new projects in the years to come. 

How did Dick Wolf get started in the entertainment business?

Dick Wolf was born in 1946 and attended the University of Pennsylvania as a college student. Wolf started his professional career as a copywriter, according to IMDb, creating advertising campaigns all while writing screenplays in his time away from the office. After Wolf moved to California, his entertainment career started in earnest, with Wolf becoming a success at having various screenplays produced, including the 1988 movie Masquerade. 

Wolf got his first taste of television success with the series Hill Street Blues. His experience on the series gave him the confidence he needed to continue his pursuit of a television career, and he went on to become a writer for the hit TV show Miami Vice. In 1990, Wolf’s iconic series Law & Order was launched – and in the years that followed, the series spawned numerous spinoffs, becoming one of television’s most successful franchises.

He signed a landmark production deal in 2020

Even as Dick Wolf expanded the Law & Order franchise, he kept working on exciting new projects – debuting his Chicago franchise in 2012 with the release of Chicago Fire. In 2018, Wolf became the executive producer of the show FBI, which has since launched two major spinoffs, FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International. By 2020, Wolf (and his “big three” TV franchises) had become indispensable to the television landscape.

That was the year the megaproducer signed a massive deal with NBC Universal-owned Universal Television – a deal worth approximately $1 billion, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The five-year deal saw the renewal of all of Wolf’s NBC dramas, including Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, Chicago Med, and Law & Order: SVU. The deal also included commitments for new projects helmed by Wolf and his team of television experts. The landmark deal is similar in nature to deals signed by other television icons like Ryan Murphy, who signed an exclusive production deal with Netflix in 2018, according to Vulture – a deal that would enable Murphy to create a plethora of new shows for the streaming platform.

What projects does Dick Wolf have in the works?

According to The Hustle, Wolf can be said to “own” primetime television, with nine shows across two networks and an incredible in-show universe that has encompassed multiple shows and numerous crossover events. In the years to come, fans can expect to see even more of Wolf’s work since the television titan has several shows in the works, including Injustice, a psychological legal drama, and The Church – a show set to revolve around a Satanic cult.

Additionally, Wolf is set to helm a docuseries titled LA Fire and Rescue, a show that will follow the firefighters of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. One thing is sure: Wolf’s grip on primetime television won’t loosen anytime soon.