SVU EP: ‘It’s Pretty Clear’ That Stabler Will Be in Season 22 Premiere
Law & Order aficionados may not have to wait until the SVU spinoff to see Elliot Stabler in action again.
In a new episode of the show’s behind-the-scenes podcast, SVU showrunner Warren Leight says, “It’s pretty clear that Elliot will be in the SVU season opener. I think that much I know.”
At the end of March, news broke that NBC had ordered a Stabler-led spinoff of the long-running procedural and that SVU alum Christopher Meloni would once more play the embattled New York City cop. The new series will be set in the organized crime division of the NYPD.
In April, Leight told TVLine exclusively that while Elliott would not have appeared in SVU‘s planned Season 21 finale, which was scrapped when the coronavirus breakout forced production shutdown, his wife and son would have.
In the podcast, Leight says whether Kathy Stabler and her kid now will show up in the premiere “remains to be seen.
“There’s a lot of moving parts,” he adds, noting that the hour would be “not just about the SVU season opener, it’s how do we help launch the new series, and how much crossover will there be between Elliot and Olivia as it goes on.” Essentially, he adds, the events of the jettisoned season-ender may wind up as a teaser in the first episode back… whenever that happens, given “we don’t know when we’ll be back to shooting and what shooting will be like in the post-COVID world.”
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Other nuggets of SVU goodness dropped during the half-hour podcast include:
* More details on the circumstances that were going to bring the Stabler family back into Olivia’s orbit: “We were going to see Kathy Stabler come back, very upset — her son has been rolled by a team of ne’er-do-wells and may have been drugged.”
* A sad update on the Stablers’ home situation: One of the questions Leight said the hour would’ve addressed would’ve been “What had happened to the Stabler family after Elliot both left SVU and apparently left them?”
* A look into what really happened to Olivia’s brother: “We were going to revisit Simon’s seeming overdose,” Leight adds.
SVU faithful: What do you think of these new details? Hit the comments to discuss Season 22 and the spinoff
Couldn’t be more excited to read these developments. Really looking forward to Chris Meloni’s return to the SVU world. It’ll be a nice shake-up and fun to watch!
I agree! Love Stabler on SVU.
Yesssss I lovvveeee you stabl
er
Would love to see Stabler return!
As always, could not care less about Olivia’s brother.
Me too! The only time they have him make an appearance is to bother Benson about getting him out trouble of his own doing.
Just like rollns sister
I know I purposely don’t watch an episode with Rollins sister in it. I just find her SUPER ANNOYING. but I am so HAPPY that Stabler is coming back.
the show was so boring this season. So I guess they think bringing Eliot back will make it more interesting, Let’s hope it works
they’re bringing back stabler to launch his own spin-off, you know that right?
Yes I know, again they just want to mine the fact people love him and wanted him back for years to have another successful but unoriginal show
Will stablers show be on regular cableor is that going to be one of those new things where you have to pay for it
So glad Elliot stabler Finally coming Back to SVU!! HE should never left the first place.
But only for one episode and then he gets his own show!
I guess Elliot has got some explaining to do about why in addition to leaving SVU he also left his family. Where has he been for the last 10 years. Presumably Olivia is aware of what happened.
Great! Stabler should’ve left is pathetic wife years ago. And I’m glad Stabler kicked his kids to the curb as well. Now hopefully Stabler can find himself a real woman. And it should be obvious that Stabler went somewhere else to concentrate on his career just as he should’ve.
I couldn’t stand Elliott’s family. I hope they don’t portray him as a deadbeat dad, but he and Kathy needed to split up.
I love to see stabler return
Please bring back criminal intent I loved that show..
I looove it! Yes please! I have long awaited for the return of Stabbler. The part is executed very well. I definitely am interested in seeing if Liv will try to unturn some stones to figure out if there was something else that could have caused her brothers death, if he is truly dead, and what about her niece Olivia why she not tried to connect with her at all. Doesn’t seem like her character. Thanks for bringing Stabbler back. And what is going on with my late night SVU???
Do you think Benson’s stepbrother’s death was cause by some branch of organized crime, and this would bring Stabler and his unit into the picture?
I am SVU NUT. I have seen Almost every episode!!!
I love Stabler and his Family!!!
One of my Favorite episodes is when ELI was BORN.
Stopped watching when Elliot left. Will give it another try when he returns.
Same I couldn’t handle it when he left it wasn’t even as good. Hopefully when he comes back it’ll be better
Stabler coming back is exciting. But do we really HAVE to bring Olivia along? I stopped watching SVU because of HER.
I wonder how the writers will explain Elliot Stabler’s transformation? When he left the show, they portrayed him as a cop with anger management issues, less than profession attitude, and was pretty much burnt out. Now he is head of a very important anti-crime unit dealing with organized crime. I wonder how many will believe the explanation?
I hope we still see a Law and Order: Hate Crimes series come to fruition! I was looking forward to that one! I suggest Elizabeth Mitchell as the lead for that one!
Of course he couldn’t be a good cop and a good husband. Elliot’s faith and his love for his wife with all those kids is part of what made him interesting to me. Probably just a way to pay fan service and have him pursue a fling with Olivia
All good stuff happening. Now all we need is to get Rafael Barba back and have Carissi decide he’d rather be a cop than a prosecutor and return to the unit. :) They need more guys anyway.
If Stabler retired how is he heading a police unit now is a question that needs an explanation.
Bringing the Stablers back i think is awesome, i just hope its a reasonably good add. Would love to find out what really happened to Simon, overdosed or hot shot by a past villion of Livs? Excited to see whats ahead, and can we get Carrisi and Rollins tigether?
Love to see Elliott Stabler back at SVU
with Olivia make a great duo. Also would be good to see Nick come back sometime too.
It’s about time he comes back. Love the show, but let’s face it he made the show. Miss him lots
Glad to see Stabler back. Love this program. Will the Captain be back The whole crew are excellent characters. Maraska is beautiful date when new season will be with Stabler back do u know
Benson(Mariska’s Character) is Captain now. There are no plans to change that.
I am super excited to see stabler back in a spin off. I always enjoyed his performance. He was raw and made you feel an emotion connection with what was going on in the show.
When will the episode air.
I’m thrilled can’t wait to see detective Stabler returns to the show!!
Law and Order SVU is now complete and Chris Meloni shouldn’t have left SVU!
I’d like to see Elliot come back to SVU but not at the expense of Mariska Harigatywho has been the best backbone of the show ever!
I’ve been waiting for “Stabler” to return since the day he left. I can’t wait to see Chris Meloni back on the screen!!! And a NYPD spin off!!! You’ve got to put “Olivia” in a love triangle with “Voight” & “Stabler”💞The chemistry between the two on the show is definitely what “hooked” me & now the “chemistry “ with “Voight” already there , too💞What more could one wish for💞