Christopher Meloni Returning To Law And Order For A Limited Series

There’s a shortage of good news to go around these days, thanks to the global COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, but thankfully, there’s still stuff to look forward to–namely Elliot Stabler himself, Christopher Meloni, making a triumphant return to the world of Law & Order for a limited series. THR reports that Meloni will bring Stabler back to the L&O fold with a 13-episode straight-to-series order.

Stabler was a main character for 12 seasons of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, rapidly becoming a fan favorite and cornerstone for procedural television. Unfortunately, thanks to failed contract negotiations, his reign came to an abrupt and unceremonious end when he was “retired” from the police force off-screen during the Season 13 premiere back in 2011. The sudden departure left Stabler’s many fans adrift and suffering a distinct lack of closure.

But now, nearly a decade later, there’s a chance for wrongs to be righted–and in prestige mini-series format, no less. Sure, a prestige spin-off may be an odd tonal shift for a show like SVU which is beloved for its over-the-top trope-infused cheesiness, but we’re ready and willing to accept any more Stabler content, no matter what.

What will Stabler be doing? Variety has reported that the series will follow him as he “heads up the organized crime division of the NYPD.” The series is currently eyeing Matt Olmstead as a writer and showrunner, while Dick Wolf will executive produce along with Peter Jankowski and Arthur W. Forney.

Unfortunately, thanks to the massive production shutdowns currently affecting the entertainment industry at large, it’s currently known when the show is scheduled to premiere.