Chris Meloni Out of Law & Order: SVU Season 13

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Is it just me, or are a lot of TV shows losing their main characters these days? It looks like Chris Meloni will not be returning to Law & Order: Special Victims Unit for its 13th season this fall. This seems like out of left to me, but TV Line learned that, despite assurances from the new NBC boss Robert Greenblatt that negotiations were in great shape, Meloni is walking away from the series.

Protracted talks between the actor — who has played Detective Stabler since the NBC crime drama’s 1999 debut — and studio NBC Universal broke down on Tuesday, says a source. Franchise creator Dick Wolf is said to already be searching for a big name to bring in opposite the series’ female lead, Mariska Hargitay.

It’s a little crazy to imagine losing Meloni after already receiving reports that Mariska Hargitay was reducing her screen time, having her character get behind a desk instead of out in the field. There was speculation about bringing a new female lead in the form of Jennifer Love Hewitt and Greenblatt still has his eyes set on her, and now we’ll start hearing rumors about who the new male lead will be. Before you know it we’ll have a completely different show on our hands. I don’t even want to start picturing all the random people who could be considered an adequate replacement for Meloni. Let’s just close our eyes and wish that Meloni is staying and him leaving is just a big stupid rumor.

15 Comments

1. 

   Lisa

   May 26, 2011 at 8:32 pm

   Unfortunately, it’s not a rumor, however much we SVU fans wish it were. In my opinion, no one can replace Christopher Meloni, who together with Mariska Hargitay, was the face, the heart and soul of SVU. Regardless of who NBC and Dick Wolf eventually sign up, I’m saying goodbye to the show. Nothing will ever be the same again.

   Reply
2. 

   noelle

   May 26, 2011 at 9:27 pm

   im actually devastated right now. i have been watching this show ever since the first season. Christoper Meloni and Mariska Hargitay ARE the show! They are just amazing together and to watch it now with two random people replacing them…i dont care who they are..they will never be stabler and benson:( i know i wont be watching season 13…

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3. 

   Berna

   May 26, 2011 at 11:29 pm

   They really were making it sound like it was just a formality and that Chris would definitely be back. I’m actually quite surprised at how sad I was to hear that he would not be back. The show is on the way out…I may watch the first episode to see how they write him out but after that I’m done with SVU…

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4. 

   Anon

   May 27, 2011 at 12:18 pm

   Regrettable. Chris and Mariska (very beautiful) has an exceptional chemical and guarantee the success of the series. I do not know if I’ll watch as before. It will be difficult to find a replacement that has a rapport so perfect with the detective Olivia Benson. The two together (both beautiful) were perfect.

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5. 

   anoonnnnn

   May 30, 2011 at 3:14 am

   omggggg ! i actually loveeeee this show!! i hpe your right and it is a masive rumor, the show wouldn’t be the same !!

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6. 

   SVU

   June 1, 2011 at 1:45 pm

   Hire David Duchovny to take the role, this is right up his alley!

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   • 

     nattie

     June 4, 2011 at 6:20 pm

     I agree! I couldn’t think of anyone to replace Chris Meloni (especially not Jennifer Love Hewitt, what a terrible decision) but I would definitely watch if Duchovny stepped in.

     Reply
7. 

   aly

   June 10, 2011 at 6:03 am

   No sir! done with the show now. they are a pair! and it will not be svu without him. DISLIKE this move.

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8. 

   Jaclyn

   September 17, 2011 at 2:14 am

   This is just the latest in a line of tv show heartbreaks for me,lol. The first was when the show “Silk Stalkings” used its last few episodes of season 4 to FINALLY get the two lead characters,Christ and Rita,to admit their feelings,hook up,get married,get pregnant…and then kill Chris! WHAT THE HECK. Felt like a punch in the face. Then the next season they were both replaced by 2 new actors and big surprise,it was the last season. Next was David Duchovny’s departure from The XFiles,however I think the situation was handled much more gracefully and Robert Patrick did a pretty decent job as a new lead. It felt clear he was not REPLACING anyone,just filling in. But the show did kind of go a bit downhill in its last 2 seasons,until Mulders return…um,but lets not talk about that last movie (what a let down). So now we say goodbye to Stabler. I think I agree with the person who said they’d watch the first episode. I am very curious to see how its handled and transitioned because NOTHING I can think up makes any sense of where his character would have went. It is not remotely believable that he would abandon Olivia. All good things really do come to an end I guess. Now I just hold out hope for the talks of the 3rd XFiles movie not being a rumor…and that they do it properly this time!

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9. 

   Renee

   September 21, 2011 at 7:03 am

   please don’t let elliot go…..they work so well together….the show is going down hill. I will watch the first show, just to see how they handle his exit. After that I will stop watching until he comes back. Everybody lets boycott the show and maybe they will get the message.

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10. 

    Drey

    September 22, 2011 at 12:22 pm

    I watched the premier episode, it was ok, but not great. WE NEED STABLER BACK, the show won’t be the same w/o him. At the end when Benson was crying, I cried with her, please come back.

    Reply
11. 

    Lea Ann

    September 22, 2011 at 12:31 pm

    I also watched the premier last night and it wasn’t the same with Meloni – I too cried along with Mariska at the end – it was not the same without the two of them

    Reply
12. 

    Claudia

    September 25, 2011 at 3:55 pm

    Why don’t we realize a good thing when we have it? The chemistry between Mariska and Chris is greater than Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh – gosh, Chris, can’t you do other work on the side and stay???? pretty please??? this show will end if you don’t stay – it needs BOTH of you!

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13. 

    Claudia

    September 25, 2011 at 3:56 pm

    and if boycotting the show brings back Mr. Meloni, then we will have done the greatest good! Please…..come back Chris………

    Reply
14. 

    Samantha

    January 28, 2012 at 3:03 pm

    I have to admit,I was very upset when I saw on the 13 season christopher wasn’t there.He doesn’t know how many fans he has gained over the yrs and now he let those fans down.His character was so funny and smart and so much more.He should really return because him and Benson parting after 12 yrs is just too much to handle for some.Chris,if you read this just think about it because the show isn’t the same w/o u.

    Reply