Say It Ain't So: Christopher Meloni Leaving SVU!

Det. Elliot Stabler has left the building! Mega popular star Christopher Meloni will not be returning for the 13th season of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. As news broke last week that costar Mariska Hargitay’s new deal would see her take on a less-demanding role on the procedural, negotiations with Meloni were still taking place.  Now, according to TV Line, talks between the actor and NBC-Universal broke down Tuesday. Reportedly series creator Dick Wolf is looking for a “big name” to play a new detective opposite Hargitay. 

I’ve been a huge fan of Meloni since his Oz days, and have loved Stabler since his 1999 debut. I don’t think SVU will be the same without him, but I am interested to see who they cast as a replacement.  Who, if anyone, could fill Det. Stabler’s shoes?