Mariska Hargitay, 62, Teases ‘Law and Order: SVU’ Season 28: ‘It’s Going to Be Better Than Season 27’ (Exclusive)
The 'SVU' star dished to Woman's World exclusively — and even Chris Meloni fans won't see this coming.
Key Takeaways
AI-generated summary reviewed by our editorial team.- Mariska Hargitay, 62, has starred on ‘Law & Order: SVU’ since 1999.
- Hargitay tells Woman's World exclusively that Season 28 will top Season 27.
- Olivia Benson holds the record as the longest-running character in TV history.
After 27 seasons, you’d think there wouldn’t be much left to surprise aw & Order: SVU fans, but think again. In a recent conversation with Woman’s World while discussing her partnership with Bristol Myers Squibb, star Mariska Hargitay offered a tantalizing preview of what’s ahead in the show’s upcoming 28th season. And if her comments are any indication, Captain Olivia Benson and the rest of Manhattan’s Special Victims Unit are heading into uncharted territory.
What exactly did Hargitay reveal? Read on to find out what could be next for one of television’s most beloved crime dramas.
Mariska Hargitay looks back on her time on ‘Law & Order: SVU’
Before diving into Season 28, Hargitay took a moment to reflect on her remarkable Law & Order: SVU journey. Since the series premiered in 1999, she has been the face of one of television’s most enduring dramas, transforming Olivia Benson from a dedicated detective into a cultural icon. Along the way, Hargitay became one of TV’s highest-paid actresses, while Benson earned a place in television history as the longest-running primetime live-action character portrayed by the same actor. More than a quarter-century after SVU debuted, both the actress and the character remain as central to the franchise as ever.
“I love how we ended Season 27,” Hargitay, age 62, tells Woman’s World, “I thought we finished really strong, and I was so proud that after 27 years that our last episode was among the best of the episodes. We had a female director and producer named Brenna Malloy, and we have a female showrunner named Michele Fazekas. It is a very female-driven show right now, and I’m very proud of that—the leadership positions are all women.”
The show wasn’t always that way, though. In fact, when Law & Order: SVU first hit the air in 1999, Hargitay was the only full-time female cast member. She also appeared second in the credits to her longtime co-star Meloni, who left the show in Season 12 (2011) before eventually returning for guest appearances in Seasons 22-24 and 26-27.
“How did that happen?!” Hargitay jokes about the credit incident, before sharing some of her favorite Season 27 episodes. “There were four that I thought were particularly excellent, and then the finale was very meaningful to me.”
For those unfamiliar with the show or who haven’t seen the finale yet, here’s a quick recap: Detective Jake Griffin (Corey Cott) survives a gunshot wound after apprehending a serial killer. Meanwhile, Captain Olivia Benson manages to save her job after Griffin records Chief of Detectives Kathryn Tynan (Noma Dumezweni) admitting she covered up a corrupt murder involving his father. Griffin gives the tape to Olivia, who uses it to blackmail Kathryn and secure her position. It’s a thrilling episode that left viewers needing a follow-up season as quickly as possible.
Mariska Hargitay teases Season 28 of ‘Law & Order: SVU’
Since the Season 27 finale aired less than a month ago, details on Season 28 do remain very limited. Even so, Hargitay did take the time to tease what viewers can expect, telling Woman’s World, “It’s going to be better than Season 27 and Season 27 was pretty great.”
As of publication, Season 28 doesn’t have a premiere date yet, but if the show follows the same pattern as before, it will most likely release on NBC and Peacock in the fall of this year.
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