As expected, Law & Order: SVU is getting another round on NBC.
Despite ratings declines this season, NBC is bringing back the Dick Wolf drama, as well as picking up a second series from the veteran producer — Chicago Fire. SVU will return for a 14th season on the network.
But sorry, Christopher Meloni fans: The veteran actor who left the show after the 12th season is not expecting to reprise his role as Det. Elliott Stabler when it returns next fall. Meloni had been on the drama since the beginning, when it launched in 1999. “My whole life on SVU was awesome. I’m appreciative of everyone on the show,” he told EW. “There was nothing wrong with that show, or nothing wrong with those people. There was just something in my heart that was unhappy. I made myself happy again.”
Instead, Meloni will play an ancient and powerful vampire named Roman in the new season of True Blood that bows June 10.
As for the other Wolf drama debuting next fall, Chicago Fire is described as an “action-driven drama exploring the complex and heroic men and women of the Windy City’s Fire Department.” OK, so that doesn’t tell you very much. It stars Teri Reeves, David Eigenberg, Charlie Barnett, Lauren German, Monica Raymund, Taylor Kinney, Jesse Spencer, Eamonn Walker and Merle Dandridge. It’s a fire-fighting drama, what more do you need to know?
Photos of SVU and Chicago Fire cast below:
