Law & Order: SVU showrunner Michele Fazekas just got candid about Benson and Stabler’s future.
The showrunner explained what’s next for the duo following the cancellation of Law & Order: Organized Crime, which featured Stabler as the lead investigator. Both detectives were introduced in Law & Order: SVU at the very beginning of the series, becoming one of the most dynamic pairs of characters in the franchise. While Stabler departed during season 12, Christopher Meloni later returned to the role in a recurring capacity starting with season 22. He later starred in the since-ended Organized Crime, which was cancelled after season 5.
Speaking with People, Fazekas addressed the classic pairing of Benson and Stabler, and what the future may hold for the investigative pairing. The showrunner explained the importance of bringing Stabler into the fold for Law & Order: SVU whenever possible, citing working around Meloni’s busy schedule as a reason why he’s not always part of various cases. However, she also says that, because of how important that relationship is for viewers, she wants to see more of it play out in the show whenever possible.
Check out what Fazekas had to say below:
Obviously, everyone’s always asking me about Stabler, and I love [Christopher] Meloni. I would use him as much as he wants to. I tried to!
[Meloni’s] very, very busy. I tried to bring him into this. I’ll just sometimes ask the question like, ‘Hey, is he working?’ It’s like, ‘Oh yes, of course he’s working.’
I think that’s a relationship that I really care about. I know the fans really care about [it]. So as much as I can, I would like to just acknowledge that and service that as much as he’s available… which he’s often not.
Benson and Stabler’s relationship has been a staple of Law & Order: SVU since the series began. The pair have worked on many a case together, spending over a decade on the force side-by-side while taking down criminals and becoming involved with complex crimes they continually seek justice for. Even after Stabler became a recurring presence on the show, he’d still be integral to the story. The same goes for Benson’s guest appearances in Organized Crime, where she’d contribute to the season-long case Stabler was trying to crack.
Due to everything they’ve been through for so long, it’s undeniable the chemistry they share is an important facet of their appearances together. This has led to some speculation that there could be romance in the pair’s future, though the series has never officiated anything between the pair. However, it’s something that has been mentioned as a potential direction before, but nothing that seems set in stone. For now, it appears their friendship and like-minded nature is going to be more crucial in their next investigations.
Law & Order: SVU season 28 has already been announced, which will bring about more key cases for Benson and the rest of her team to tackle. Stabler being part of those investigations seems inevitable, should there be some negotiation to fit in a guest appearance with Meloni’s busy schedule. If he does come back soon, then it seems reasonable to further him and Benson’s relationship with another investigation headed up by the pair.
As development of Law & Order: SVU continues, it seems likely there will be plenty of moments between Benson and Stabler as the latter is able to make appearances on the series. Their story is far from done, even if Organized Crime has been cancelled. Instead, it seems there will be a different status quo going forward, one that still allows the pair to continue interacting as they always have, but one that also makes Stabler somewhat of a guest for the foreseeable future.