Posted in: NBC, Peacock, TV | Tagged: Law & Order: SVU

Law & Order: SVU: Hargitay Teasing More Meloni/Stabler This Season?

Law & Order: SVU star/EP Mariska Hargitay seemed to tease that Christopher Meloni's Stabler is returning for more than one episode.

Published Fri, 25 Sep 2026 15:37:16 -0500

by Ray Flook

Comments

Article Summary

Mariska Hargitay confirmed Christopher Meloni’s Stabler returns for Law & Order: SVU’s milestone 600th episode.
A new interview tease has fans buzzing that Stabler could be back for more than one Law & Order: SVU episode.
Asked if she got Meloni back for good, Hargitay dodged the question, fueling fresh Benson-Stabler speculation.
Hargitay has also revealed she will direct SVU Episode 600, adding even more intrigue to Stabler’s comeback.

After some ten-ton teases, series star and executive producer Mariska Hargitay confirmed earlier this week that Christopher Meloni's Det. Elliot Stabler would be returning for the 600th episode of Showrunner Michele Fazekas and NBC's Law & Order: SVU. But could Meloni's Stabler be sticking around beyond the milestone episode? During today's championship edition of the Roommates Show Block Party, co-host, New York Knicks Finals Champ, and one of Hargitay's bestest buds, Jalen Brunson, asked Hargitay about the return of her co-star and friend. "Well, I think you all know who's back," Hargitay responded. "I got my old partner back." But things got especially interesting when Brunson followed up with, "You got him back for an episode, or you got him back for good?" Hargitay's response? "I'm not going to tell all. It's not that kind of show." Let the speculation begin!

Here's a look at the clip from today's show, with Hargitay dropping that (possible) ten-ton hint (and thanks to Law & Order SVU-@NBCSVU_fans for sharing):

"I got my old partner back." Mariska Hargitay about Meloni return. pic.twitter.com/8EcY3YFZns

— Law & Order SVU (@NBCSVU_fans) September 25, 2026

Checking in with The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast heading into the summer, Hargitay dropped some big news about the upcoming 600th episode, shared how she and Meloni disagreed with Dick Wolf's decision to go with Stabler and Benson having that near-kiss in S24E12: "Blood Out" (and that different takes were filmed), and offered her thoughts on a Stabler-Benson reunion in the future, now that Meloni's Law & Order: Organized Crime was canceled.

Hargitay Is Directing "SVU" Episode 600: "They just asked me to direct the 600th! Which is episode six next year. It's crazy. Even I can't download it. Even I go, 'Wait, what?!' No, it's nuts."

Hargitay and Meloni Disagreed with Wolf's Near-Kiss Decision; Alternate Takes Were Filmed: "I think we felt that this moment was earned, that this thing could happen for a second — and so that's how we shot it. [audience goes crazy] Don't you wish you were there for that?! Yeah. We shot it a couple different ways. And then they [Wolf and others] had the choice in editing, and they [opted to use the near-kiss version rather than the kiss] … We [she and Meloni] disagreed. We disagreed because we thought that it was earned and the way it was dealt with was really complex and very beautiful and very human and showed the complexity of their relationship and all the different ways that they're connected … [But] no matter what I want, Dick Wolf can totally just say, 'Uh, no.'"

Hargitay on a Stabler/Benson Reunion in the Future: "Chris has his own show now [Hulu's upcoming The Land]. At some point? I mean, anything's possible. Yes. The answer to that is he, and I are not … it's not done. It's not dun-dun [the L&O sound] – see what I did there?"

"I hope so," Hargitay shared with Deadline Hollywood during NBCUniversal's Emmys Kick-Off Luncheon earlier this year. "That is a very heartening thing for both of us, that our relationship was so iconic culturally and that Benson and Stabler still resonates is deeply meaningful to me, and Chris and I, I'm sure you know, are very, very close. He's a very in-demand actor, so we'll see if the schedule is lined up," she added. "I love Chris and I love acting with Chris, so I'm always open to working with him and getting Benson and Stabler together. They're happiest when they're together."

Mariska Hargitay, Ice T, Peter Scanavino, Kelli Giddish, Kevin Kane, and Aimé Donna Kelly star. Dick Wolf, Michele Fazekas, Mariska Hargitay, Kenneth Brown, and Peter Jankowski executive produce. NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (SVU) is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with Wolf Entertainment.

Enjoyed this? Please share on social media!