'Law & Order: SVU': What Christopher Meloni's Return as Elliot Stabler This Fall Means for the Franchise

Finally Seeing Where Stabler is Today

We could finally learn what pushed Stabler to suddenly decide to retire at the end of Season 12. When Season 13 opened Cragen (Dann Florek) told Benson Stabler decided to retire from the force after refusing to undergo a review by Internal Affairs. If this new series comes to fruition though, it means Stabler has agreed to return to New York. How long has he been in New York City? Was he living in the New York area this whole time?

Catching Up With Stabler's Family

Law & Order does not always go deep into the characters' private lives, but Stabler had one of the most well-developed backgrounds of any character in the franchise. Stabler struggled to keep his private life private and his work life out of the home. He clashed with wife Kathy (Isabel Gillies) and daughter Kathleen (Alison Siko) often found herself in trouble. We also met Stabler's mother, Bernadette (Ellen Burstyn), who has bipolar disorder. Stabler has two other daughters and two sons, who could all play a part in the new series.

Picking Up Where 'SVU' Season 21 Left Off

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, production on SVU was cut short so they were never able to film the episode intended to be a true finale. Showrunner Warren Leight told TVLine there were no plans to include Stabler in the episode, but they were looking to bring back his family members. Perhaps this story could be used in the new series.

"We were hoping to bring back [Stabler]'s wife and troubled son — in part to tee up his return," Leight said.

Changing Dynamics in the Squadroom

So much has changed in the nine years since Stabler left and it will be fascinating to see how the dynamics change in the squad room. Benson is now captain, and Fin (Ice-T) is the only other remaining detective who worked with Stabler. The other detectives who work with Benson are Amanda Rollins (Kelli Giddish) and Katriona "Kat" Tamin (Jamie Gray Hyder). Dominick Carisi (Peter Scanavino) is now the Assistant District Attorney working with the squad. Medical Examiner Melinda Warner (Tamara Tunie), who was a series regular character during Stabler's last seasons, made a rare appearance early in Season 21.

Meloni Stayed Close with Hargitay

While some actors leave shows on bad terms, Meloni did not, despite the rumored circumstances behind his departure. He reportedly left because he could not come to terms for a new contract, which explains why he did not get a proper on-screen send-off. However, Meloni remained close with Hargitay and had said in the past he would like to return to SVU.

"I have always said I would be open to it. [The] circumstances have to be right, that is all," he told Entertainment Tonight in 2017. "It is lovely [to still see the fan support]... I knew how important it was to people, how much it meant to people. Twelve years with your partner-in-crime, it is a long time."

New Show Details

The new series does not have a title, but it is set to focus on Stabler leading the NYPD's Organized Crime Division. Matt Olmstead, who worked with Law & Order creator Dick Wolf on Chicago P.D. and Chicago Fire, was reportedly hired as the showrunner. The show is not likely to be ready to air in fall 2020, since all television productions in New York have been put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic. If Wolf is planning to bring in Meloni to make a guest appearance on SVU, it will not happen until Season 22.