Changes are coming in the 18^th season of "Law & Order: SVU," as a new showrunner begins to take over the show.

After five years of working on the show, Warren Leight will depart from the show as its showrunner at the end of season 17. But according to executive producer Julie Martin, the incoming showrunner, Rick Eid, has a lot of experience working for the "Law & Order" franchise. This means that the show will be in good hands.

"He's a fantastic writer and he will bring a new energy to the show," the executive producer said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. "It's always great to have people come in who haven't been doing it for years and they have a fresh perspective and they have a different take on things and a different energy and just infuse what we have with some new blood."

Since Eid's location is far from the New York set of the series because he is based primarily in Los Angeles, Martin revealed that she will be more hands on in the production of the show's upcoming season. This will reportedly provide an advantage for the show, since a female executive producer's input regarding the sexual assault cases that the show tackles in each episode will be very beneficial.

"There are strong women survivor characters in almost every episode so I think having a woman's sensibility and a woman's voice is very, very helpful to telling those stories," the executive producer said.

Meanwhile, fans of the series are looking forward to see Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) enter into a romantic relationship with Captain Ed Tucker (Robert John Burke) in season 18 after the latter showed an amazing relationship with Benson's adopted son in season 17.

"Law & Order: SVU" season 18 is expected to air on NBC later this year.