Elliott Stabler will return to Law & Order: SVU in the Season 22 premiere
Law & Order: SVU fans who have missed the Stabler/Benson dynamic can rejoice as Christopher Meloni resumes his role.
Christopher Meloni left the character of Elliott Stabler behind in 2011, but now, not only is he set to reprise his role as the take-charge detective on his own series, he’ll get a head start in the Season 22 premiere of Law & Order: SVU when he reprises his role to guest star alongside Mariska Hargitay who portrays Captain Olivia Benson.
According to showrunner Warren Leight, Stabler wasn’t scheduled to appear in the original Season 21 finale, but his wife, Kathy, and their child was. Since the episodes were cut short, it’s unclear if only Stabler will return for the Season 22 opener or if he’ll be joined by his family.
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Just last year, Leight was hopeful that Meloni would return to the SVU squadroom before the series wrapped for the final time. At that point, there was no indication that a spin-off series was in the works. That announcement came in March, and though little details have been provided, we do know that the series will consist of thirteen episodes and revolve around the NYPD’s organized crime unit which Stabler will head. The as-of-yet unnamed series has no premiere date, and production has not yet begun.
As all productions are at a standstill because of the coronavirus, the return date for Law & Order: SVU is uncertain. Leight said it’s not known when the new season will begin filming. But fans who had been hoping for a Stabler/Benson reunion at least have something to look forward to in the coming months.
Welcome back to the NYPD, Detective Stabler!
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Are you looking forward to the new series? Do you think Law & Order: SVU has been too different without Detective Stabler? Share your thoughts in the comments below.