One of television’s most beloved duos reunited via Instagram. According to Deadline, Mariska Hargitay (ER, Lake Placid) and Chris Meloni (Happy, Underground) both posted photos of them together, alluding to the highly-anticipated return of Law & Order: SVU’s original pairing. Meloni struck first with a black and white photo captioned “We are a little bit closer.” with Hargitay settled behind him. Hours later, Hargitay posted the pair in color with the caption “Now even closer…#EO.” Check out both posts below.
According to Deadline, Meloni is set to reprise his role as former special victims unit detective, Eliot Stabler, in an episode meant to introduce new series in the Law & Order franchise. Law & Order: Organized Crime will see Meloni’s Stabler battling criminal syndicates in New York. Originally set for 2020, the series will now bow later this year. Meloni’s upcoming appearance will be his first guest role in the series since his departure in 2011. Meloni left the show due to contractual issues.
Created by Dick Wolf (New York Undercover, FBI), NBC’s Law & Order: SVU debuted in 1999 with Meloni’s Stabler and Hargitay’s Olivia Benson as leads. The two thwarted crimes of sexual nature for twelve years with a cast that boasted Richard Belzer (Homicide: Life on the Street, Homicide: The Movie), Ice-T (New Jack City, Surviving the Game), Stephanie March (Conviction, Neon Joe, Werewolf Hunter), Diane Neal (Dracula II: Ascension, Dirty Movie), Dann Florek (Hard Rain, Angel Heart), BD Wong (Gotham, Mr. Robot), and Tamara Tunie (As the World Turns, Flight). The series has carried on with Hargitay as lead and is now in its 22nd season. SVU was the first spinoff of the original Law & Order series. It was followed by Criminal Intent, Trial By Jury and, Los Angeles.
New episodes of Law and Order: SVU air Thursdays at 9 p.m. EST on NBC, and the next day on Hulu. All 21 seasons are available to stream on Hulu.