‘Law & Order: SVU’: Mariska Hargitay Teases Christopher Meloni’s Return With New Selfie
Many die-hard Law & Order: SVU fans already know what’s up, but if you haven’t heard the news, Christopher Meloni is coming back to play Detective Elliot Stabler in SVU before he reprises his role in a new spinoff called Law & Order: Organized Crime. Although he was originally supposed to be in the premiere of season 22, fans can look forward to seeing him soon if social media is anything to go on.
Mariska Hargitay, who played his on-screen longtime partner in SVU, recently shared a memorable selfie with Meloni, and it’s something fans will want to see.
Elliot Stabler will return to ‘Law & Order: SVU’
Stabler left after season 12, and it was a hard situation for fans to come to terms with. Meloni actually exited because of a contract dispute. However, his partner, Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay), had the hardest time with it. She had to try and move on without closure of being able to say goodbye to someone who meant so much to her. Plus, their chemistry was palpable, and some fans even wanted the two to spark a romantic connection.
But there’s good news because the two former partners will be reuniting ahead of Stabler’s new spinoff. That means fans can expect the reunion to take place this year, since Organized Crime premieres in 2021. Plus, there have been multiple images shared teasing the return of Stabler, which has fans excited.
What to expect from ‘Law & Order: Organized Crime’
Fans were supposed to see Stabler’s return in the Fall lineup, but Organized Crime was delayed. According to The Hollywood Reporter, it had to do with showrunner Matt Olmstead leaving the project.
Stabler will return after dealing with “a devastating personal loss,” according to NBC. Here’s what else to expect according to the official description: “However, the city and police department have changed dramatically in the decade he’s been away, and he must adapt to a criminal justice system in the midst of its own moment of reckoning. Stabler will aim to find absolution and rebuild his life while leading an elite new task force that is taking apart the city’s most powerful crime syndicates one by one.”
Mariska Hargitay teases Christopher Meloni’s return with new selfie
Both Meloni and Hargitay have been sharing teases of the impending reunion, including Hargitay posting an image of a Zoom call read through they both attended. On Friday, January 15, Meloni shared a black and white selfie with his former partner sitting down in the back while looking up. Meloni’s face is a little cut off in the shot. “We are a little bit closer,” Meloni captioned the image on Instagram.
The post had a lot of fans commenting with their thoughts on the matter. But that isn’t all. Hargitay took a selfie with Meloni as well, and she plays off Meloni’s words in her post. “Now even closer… #EO,” Hargitay captioned the post on Instagram.
Hargitay stands near the center of the shot with a black suit on and a mask below her chin. Behind her stands Meloni wearing a suit and smiling for the camera with his mask attached to one ear. Hargitay even tagged Meloni in the post. It appears the two could be in a warehouse or storage facility of some kind. Could they be working on a case together? Fans are understandably excited for this future episode.
Fans react
As can be expected, a number of fans took to the comments to express their feelings about Hargitay’s latest post. Fans are excited for the future episode that brings these two back together, and we’re right there with them.
A fan hopes the image was taken while “on set.” “Please tell me that was taken on set ❤️🙏🏻❤️,” a fan said.
“Ahahaha YES!! Partners forever,” a fan wrote.
While another fan used all caps to express themselves. “I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS!!!!!” they said.
One fan admits to “hollering.” “Omg I’m screaming, I am literally HOLLERING!!!!!😭😭😭❤️,” they said.
A fan is simply “waiting” for the former partners “to get together,” and it’s safe to say other fans are as well. “I’m just waiting for them to get together on Law and Order,” they said.
“I. CAN’T. HANDLE. THIS,” a fan wrote while tagging someone on Instagram, while another fan simply says, “I am thrilled,” while tagging others in the post as well.
It’s safe to say that fans of Law & Order: SVU are loving all the behind-the-scenes images teasing the return of Stabler and his reunion with Benson. We’ll have to see how things play out in the future episode.
