Christopher Meloni might have just teased his possible return to ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’, something that the show’s fans have been waiting for a long time. The actor took to his Instagram handle and shared some glimpses of his reunion with co-stars, especially Mariska Hargitay.
Meloni shared all the photos on Instagram over the weekend, as he was seen all smiles while posing for a selfie with Hargitay. He also shared a few more snaps with fellow Law & Order actor Dann Florek.
Meloni’s possible return to the 27th season of Law & Order is sure to leave the show’s fans shocked!
The caption of the post read, “Hangin with friends on a Friday nite @therealmariskahargitay @dannflorek.”
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In a few shots, the actors even sat close on director’s chairs and caught up off-camera. In fact, they appeared particularly close in one of the pictures, where Meloni, 64, had his arms wrapped around Hargitay, 61, as the on-screen pair looked towards the camera.
The unexpected reunion photos had fans commenting on the IG post, expressing excitement over Meloni’s surprising return. For instance, one user wrote, “Welcome home Captain Cragen! Looks like a fun Friday night.”
Another one commented, “Oh I’m soooooo ready for this episode!!!!!! Cragen, Benson, and Stabler in one episode, the OG’s back together again…” A few others even went on to call Meloni and Hargitay a “power couple.”
Meloni’s character in Law & Order
Christopher Meloni played Detective Elliot Stabler on Law & Order: SVU for 12 seasons alongside Hargitay, who plays the character of Capt. Olivia Benson. The role even earned him an Emmy nomination in 2006 for outstanding actor in the lead role in a drama series.
However, his character left SVU following the episode Smoked in season 12. This happened after the last season focused on a case involving Stabler that reportedly “required him to step in to halt a devastating shooting at the precinct.”
Here’s what an NBC Insider said about the same, “The episode centered on what would’ve have been a trial for the se*ual assa*lt of Annette Fox, a victim whose case had been delayed for years.” It further states, “A week before she was scheduled to testify, Annette was shot in cold blood in front of her teenage daughter, Jenna Fox.”
Later, Meloni even told the New York Post that he parted ways with Law & Order: SVU with “zero animosity” and was “finding new adventures.”
Meloni’s return to Law & Order
Fans were super happy and excited when Christopher Meloni returned to the Law & Order franchise in Law & Order: Organized Crime in 2021. In fact, he also made a guest appearance in an episode of SVU that same year. For the unversed, Season 27 of Law & Order: SVU is going to premiere on Thursday, September 25, this year.
Although their SVU characters have taken different paths within the Law & Order universe, the bond between Hargitay and Meloni remains unbreakable.