Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay is actively “planning” an extended reunion for two of the franchise’s most iconic characters, saying that “it’s time” audiences finally see them back together. Hargitay gave the update exclusively to Variety while speaking at NBC Universal’s For Your Consideration Emmys presentation last Friday.

Hargitay acknowledged that audiences have wanted to see her character, Detective Olivia Benson, reunite with original franchise star Detective Elliot Stabler, played by Christopher Meloni, since the two shared a near-kiss in the SVU’s season 24 finale last year.

In 2021, Meloni made a long-awaited return to the Law & Order franchise after leaving a decade earlier. He currently headlines Law & Order: Organized Crime, which occasionally overlaps with characters and storylines on SVU. However, some fans were concerned this would change when it was announced that Organized Crime would move from NBC to Peacock for its upcoming season.

Speaking to Variety, Hargitay promised things would remain nominally the same, revealing that she already has plans in mind to reunite herself and Meloni.

“I’m actually planning on it,” she announced. “I just told him the other day. We had a party the other night, we saw each other. It was heavenly. I met his [Organized Crime] showrunner. They want us together.”

Hargitay feels that Benson and Stabler’s on-screen chemistry is exactly what their respective series need, and she’s determined to give audiences what they want.

“Chris and I were talking about it, and it’s time. It’s time now for us. This was a long time not being in each other’s universe,” Hargitay explained. “That’s why we did the calls and stuff like that. But we’re excited to get back in there, get back in the ring.”

Hargitay previously revealed to the outlet that she and Meloni have different ideas than creator Dick Wolf of how their characters’ relationship should develop. Speaking about the kiss the two almost shared at the end of season 24, Hargitay said: “To be honest with you, Chris and I thought it should go one way and the powers that be didn’t, so it got changed at the last minute. “Obviously, Dick gets final say. It’s his show and he didn’t want that.

“We want to hold the tension, and do what’s right and truthful for both characters,” Hargitay continued. “I think that we’re sort of irrevocably locked.”