NBC'S 'LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT' KICKS OFF WITH TWO-HOUR PREMIERE EVENT ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 (9-11 P.M. ET)

PRODUCTION BEGINS ON RECORD-BREAKING 12TH SEASON

Season 12 Welcomes Guest Stars Henry Ian Cusick, Joan Cusack and Maria Bello

Paula Patton Joins the Regular Cast as New A.D.A.

NEW YORK - July 30, 2010 -- Wolf Films and Universal Media Studio's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" will kick off its record-breaking 12th season with a two-hour season premiere event on Wednesday, September 22 (9-11 p.m. ET) on NBC, it was announced today by creator and executive producer Dick Wolf. The show is currently the longest-running drama series on television.

"We're looking forward to launching our 12th season with a special two hours of 'SVU' that will take Benson and Stabler through the twists and turns everyone loves," said Neal Baer, executive producer. "We're blasting off with a stellar guest cast including Joan Cusack, Peter Strauss and 'Lost's' Henry Ian Cusick."

Oscar and Golden Globe nominated actress Joan Cusack will guest-star with Emmy-nominated actor Cusick in the two-part season premiere.

Golden Globe Award-nominated Maria Bello will also guest-star in two episodes this season, as a woman with a secret past who is under investigation.

"Precious" star Paula Patton also joins the "SVU" cast in October as the charming and savvy new A.D.A. Mikka Von.

Cusick most recently starred as fan-favorite Desmond Hume in the hit series "Lost." His other television credits include "24" and the British series' "Waking the Dead" and "Two Thousand Acres of Sky."

Cusack recently added her voice to the Disney/Pixar film "Toy Story 3" and appeared in the films "My Sister's Keeper," "Confessions of a Shopaholic" and "Martian Child."

Bello currently stars in the film "Grown Ups" with Adam Sandler and Kevin James. Her other film credits include "A History of Violence" and "The Cooler." Bello previously worked with Baer on NBC's "ER," where she won the 1998 SAG Award for Best Ensemble Cast.

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" is a Wolf Films production in association with Universal Media Studio and airs Wednesdays (9-10 p.m. ET) on NBC. Dick Wolf, Ted Kotcheff, Neal Baer and Peter Jankowski are executive producers; Arthur Forney, Dawn DeNoon, Jonathan Greene, Daniel Truly and Peter Leto are co-executive producers.