Benson/Stabler fans, where y’all at?!? Elliot Stabler will be back and reporting for duty as Christopher Meloni is set to reprise his popular “Law & Order: SVU” role.
Meloni’s exit nearly a decade ago left many die hard fans of the show heartbroken. He is now returning for the show’s season 22 premiere, according to People.
“It’s pretty clear that Elliot will be in the SVU season opener. I think that much I know,” showrunner Warren Leight said during a recent episode of SVU’s behind-the-scenes podcast.
Meloni is actually bringing back his iconic character for the episode to help launch his own spinoff series. The show, which has yet to be given a title, will follow Stabler as he leads the organized crime division of the NYPD. The new series already received a 13-episode order.
As far as when we’ll get this season premiere is another story, and we can thank the coronavirus for that. Leight said that due to the pandemic, it’s unclear when the new season will start shooting.
This will be the first time Meloni will be playing Stabler since leaving “Law & Order: SVU” back in 2011 after contract negotiations broke down.
Meloni was an original cast member when the franchise premiered more than 20 years ago in September 1999, and he earned a lead actor in a drama series Emmy nomination for his work on the show in 2006.
Meloni was written off in the show after its season 12 finale, showing his character as retiring from the police force.
Speaking of spinoffs, the Law & Order franchise also announced a “hate crimes” spinoff back in September 2018. However around this time last year, NBC decided to put a pin in it.
In February, “Law & Order: SVU” was renewed through its 24th season.
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