Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni made their on-screen reunion in the first teaser for the upcoming Law & Order crossover episode — almost.
Hargitay, 57, and Meloni, 59, are both featured in the 30-second trailer, released Thursday on social media, but only Hargitay is shown on screen in the new footage.
The iconic duo who led Law & Order: Special Victims Unit for 12 years will be back together again in front of the camera for the first time in a decade with a new crossover episode introducing Meloni’s new spin-off series, Law & Order: Organized Crime.
Reunited: Mariska Hargitay, 57, and Christopher Meloni, 59, made their on-screen reunion in the first teaser for the upcoming Law & Order crossover episode released Thursday
The teaser opens with a flashback to 2011, when Meloni left the series after producers refused his demands during contract negotiations.
His character was subsequently written off the show.
‘Are you and Stabler good partners?’ a woman asks off screen at the start of the teaser in the flashback to 2011.
‘We’ve worked together a long time. I can anticipate what he’s thinking, what he’s gonna do. Yeah, we have a great rapport,’ Hargitay’s character Detective Olivia Benson says as if in a stupor over footage of her and Detective Stabler walking in front of a New York cityscape.
Old school: The teaser opens with a flashback to 2011, when Meloni left the series after producers refused his demands during contract negotiations
Old pals: Hargitay’s character Detective Olivia Benson praises Detective Elliot Stabler (Meloni) in flashback
The action shifts to the office of Captain Donald Cragen (played by Dann Florek) at Benson’s precinct.
‘Elliot put his papers in,’ he says, sounding defeated as emotion clouds Benson’s face. ‘There was nothing I could do.’
But the then desaturated footage is replaced by color images from the upcoming crossover episode.
Police officers are seen milling about a crime scene near a burned-out car with an ambulance ready nearby.
Bad news: The action shifts to the office of Captain Donald Cragen (played by Dann Florek) at Benson’s precinct
Wounded: ‘Elliot put his papers in,’ he says, sounding defeated as emotion clouds Benson’s face. ‘There was nothing I could do’
Present day: But the then desaturated footage is replaced by color images from the upcoming crossover episode. Police officers are seen milling about a crime scene near a burned-out car with an ambulance ready nearby
Benson is overcome with emotion due to something at the crime scene.
‘Liv!’ shouts her older partner off screen, and Olivia turns dramatically to face him as her eyes begin to well up.
‘Elliot!’ she gasps as the teaser comes to an end.
Although the clip coyly leaves Meloni off screen, it confirms the actors’ on-screen reunion in the episode, which is slated to air on Thursday, April 1 on NBC.
An episode of SVU will kick off the reunion at 9 p.m. ET/10 CT, followed by the first episode of Organized Crime at 10 p.m. ET/11 CT.
Surprise! Benson is overcome with emotion due to something at the crime scene. ‘Liv!’ shouts her older partner off screen, and Olivia turns dramatically to face him as her eyes begin to well up
Shocker: ‘Elliot!’ she gasps as the teaser comes to an end
Hargitay and Meloni helped revive the long-running Law & Order franchise when they debuted as partners on SVU in 1999.
The show has gone on to become the longest-running live-action series airing on prime time in the US, even surpassing the original Law & Order series, which ended after its 20th season in 2010.
It’s also the fourth longest-running scripted series in television history.
On Wednesday, Hargitay was spotted filming a scene from the upcoming 22nd season with her costar Ice-T, who has been a regular on the series since its second season.
They’ll likely be at it for quite some time, as NBC made a rare three-season renewal for SVU, keeping it on the air at least through its 24th season.
Iconic duo: Hargitay and Meloni helped revive the long-running Law & Order franchise when they debuted as partners on SVU in 1999. It went on to become the longest-running live-action series airing on prime time in the US