Fans of NBC's long-running 'Law & Order' spin-off 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit' were more than a little blind-sided to discover that longtime series regular Christopher Meloni would rather abruptly depart the series last season.  Perhaps equally jarring was that Meloni next took a series regular role on the fifth season of HBO's 'True Blood,' only to...well...yeah!  So with all the sudden entrances and exits, is there any chance of seing Detective Elliott Stabler again?

In spite of his contract with 'Law & Order: SVU' breaking down following the show's twelfth season, former series star Christopher Meloni insists that he has no bad blood with anyone on the series, and would consider a return.  Speaking to TVLine, the actor says, “No one has approached me or anything like that.  But I’m open to all possibilities. I love those people, I love the actors, it was a magnificent ride. I’ll cross that bridge when it comes.”

Furthermore, Meloni admitted that he understood why fans of the series were dismayed to see him leave so suddenly, adding:

The fans really got the rug pulled out from under them.  I am absolutely very empathetic about that; I get it.

Of course, fans of Meloni's character Roman on the current season of 'True Blood' were equally dismayed to see - SPOILER ALERT - the character so grotesquely ended by Russell Edgington in the sixth episode, having previously been touted by HBO as a series regular.  As for any ambiguity on that note, Meloni says "For the time being, he’s dead. I think that was my swan song."

Of course, Meloni isn't down and out quite yet, with upcoming projects including a highly-shushed role in 'Man of Steel,' and comedy 'They Came Together' with Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler.

What say you?  Do you think Meloni should make a return appearance on 'Law & Order: SVU,' now that his time on 'True Blood' has come to an end?  Where would you like to see Meloni pop up next?  Sound off in the comments below!

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