Chris Meloni Returns to SVU Universe in Stabler-Centric Spinoff at NBC
Law & Order: SVU faithful, prepare to get chung-chung!‘d: Christopher Meloni is going to play Elliot Stabler again… in a new series centered on the fan-favorite detective.
Meloni’s Stabler will be the boss in a SVU spinoff set in the organized crime division of the New York City Police Department, our sister site Deadline reports. NBC has given the new show, which hails from prolific executive producer Dick Wolf, a 13-episode Season 1 order.
Meloni left the procedural after negotiations related to his contract broke down at the end of Season 12. When Season 13 started, Stabler had retired from the police force and slipped away without a word; his partner, Olivia Benson, learned the heartbreaking news at the same time that fans did.
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Since leaving SVU, Meloni’s TV credits include Underground, Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, Pose, The Handmaid’s Tale and Happy!. He also voices the character of Commissioner Gordon in the animated series Harley Quinn.
Last year, TVLine asked current SVU showrunner Warren Leight whether enough time had passed that Meloni might someday make a return to the series he called home for 12 seasons.
With the caveat that the negotiations involved would be “above my pay grade,” Leight said, “Look: I assume that if some year, some decade, couple decades from now, we get to the last SVU, [Meloni] would have to come back before we do the last episode or before the show signs off… However, I don’t think we’re at that point in the show’s run.”
Do you have strong feelings about seeing more Stabler? Hit the comments and let us know!
As long as there is a crossover … Yea!!! Happy Camper!
Great news, miss him!
Awesome news. SVU just hasn’t been the same without him.
I think Mariska has been carrying the show just fine without him!
confused – why not just return to the original series? I thought the reason he has stayed away was due to bad blood. However, if he is getting his own spin-off TV series now then there can’t be much negativity there to prohibit his return to SVU. *shrug*
THAT’S TERRIFIC. CANNOT WAIT TO SEE HIS NEW SERIES
The slay!
Let me know when the back door pilot off SVU and the crossovers air.You know this will happen and probably run 20 years like SVU
Stabler: A Law and Order story
Yeah, this reminds me of Exiled: A Law & Order Movie, when Mike Logan came back as a detective in Staten Island. I really think that Elliot and Olivia, named after two of Dick Wolf’s children for goodness’ sake, need to be together. I keep hoping that it’ll happen whenever the final season of SVU rolls around, but now that there don’t appear to be any hard feelings I hope it happens at some point soon.
You think Elliot and Olivia need to be together because they are named after Dick Wolf’s children? Do you think all siblings need to be together?
I assume the fact that they click is the point. If the characters had his kids’ names before auditions for the parts, he would have been looking for that kind of dynamic.
Yes, PatriciaLee, that was my point. From the beginning of the show, the chemistry of Elliot and Olivia was foundational and SVU honestly just hasn’t been the same since Elliot left. It’s been challenging watching Olivia without Elliot and will likely be similarly difficult watching Elliot without Olivia.
No no no Stabler needs to be able to date other women. At this point Olivia is like an old comfortable slipper, still feels comfortable but the insides stink. They should be good, close, friends only. Forgot about Eviled, that was good.
I heartily agree! Stabler is/was my favorite character. I would love to see him and Olivia reunite. Wolf is a genius. I hope he is able to write a beautiful love scene between Elliot and Olivia….one which makes everyone happy.
So happy to see him again. Can’t wait.
Elliott!!! Yeah! This would be the one SUV backdoor pilot I would like to see if that is how they introduced the new series.
Backdoor pilots are used to weigh interest in potential new series. The fact it’s already ordered to series means there’s no need for that.
I look forward to the new show . The current version of “SVU” is largely uninteresting. It has gotten away from its core premise. I think Meloni’s shoe will be in the right direction. Police work, not sentiment!
Why wouldn’t Meloni’s shoe be in the right direction? Did Stabler suffer a foot injury since her left SVU?
Wish it was homicide crimes vs organized crime. I’m tired of drug deals gone bad.
Same. Drug dealers & mobsters are boring.
I agree completely!! I dont really care for the storylines of most of the organized crime shows. Loved me some Elliott Stabler on SVU though!!
Insert Michael Scott gif “oh my god, okay.. it’s happening, everybody stay calm”
HA!!!
This is the best news I’ve heard in weeks!
SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS
I really hope this is true, but I have to admit that my first thought when I read this was that it was an early April Fool’s Day joke.
Oh God, I never thought of that. Now I’m worried.
Is this real or did they accidentally post an April Fools’ story a day early?
That’s what I was wondering! I live in NZ so it is already April 1.
This was my first thought as well lol
Was this article meant to be posted tomorrow? I really hope this is legit.
I want a show with Katie Erbe as the lead. Alex Eames is awesome! For me, she is the best female detective of the LO Universe
OMG – I was thinking the same thing!
my least favorite SVU character. Like the actor, hate the character and his baby making wife. Blech
I love SVU and love, love, love Mariska Hargitay. She is the heart and soul of the show. But while he was on, I loved Stabler too. So I am sincerely excited to see that Christopher Meloni will be back playing Stabler. I will be watching.
DITTO!!
April Fools
I don’t think it’s an April’s Fool joke. Meloni himself confirmed the news. Unless he’s in on it too. But I doubt it. He had his walkabout and now he’s ready to get back to doing what made him a household name. Because I guarantee this is about job and financial security than anything else. I just wish it wasn’t a spinoff. Seems odd having Benson and Stabler operating apart.
Organized Crime why not Sex Crimes in Queens or Brooklyn? I miss Elliot beating up pedophiles.
Why not homicides? Organized crimes are boring
I miss Amaro beating up pedophiles, too…he was good at it!
in my opinion, they tried too hard to make amaro the new stabler with the rage. i hated that. that’s not how his character started out.
That’s also just the way Danny Pino is…really emotional & gets all fired up in every role.
This is great new, I love his character. Plus, Christopher is such a great actor!
Hard PASS!
SVU Definately improved when Stabler left.
April Fools? A day early? I can’t believe this >_<
I hope he is not the same intense Elliot Stabler that he used to be. I will give it a try but don’t like the old Elliot at all. Mellow out Elliot please.
I was hoping for a Chicago SVU
Maybe if Voight & Olivia ever get together, there can be! 👍