The Law & Order: SVU squad is gearing up for season 22.
On Monday, the NBC police drama restarted production on the new season in New York. The series returns this November, and star Mariska Hargitay celebrated the return of SVU with a series of behind-the-scenes photos from Day 1 on set and a read-through a few days prior.
Law & Order: SVU: Mariska Hargitay's photos on season 22 set
Hargitay's photos show safety precautions in-action on the set of SVU, as well as a virtual cast read-through for season 22. "It's all happening," Hargitay captioned her behind-the-scenes Instagram post, which shows her in the "hair chair" with a mask. "First day of shooting season 22!! Making history. So grateful to be back at work," she added.
Other cast and production members are seen in the second photo, with everyone masked up and ready to go. Over the weekend, the longtime SVU star had also shared photos of the cast doing a virtual read-through to prepare for Monday's return. Cast members including Peter Scanavino, Kelli Giddish, and Jamie Gray Hyder are seen on the actress's screen — which additionally previews an episode titled "Remember Me in Quarantine."
Law & Order: SVU season 22 premieres on Nov. 12
SVU restarted production on Sept. 14, nearly six months after it paused amid the pandemic in March — which brought an end to season 21 three episodes early. The pandemic has also altered plans for the SVU return of Christopher Meloni and "Det. Elliot Stabler," who won't launch his spin-off Organized Crime until some time in 2021.
SVU showrunner Warren Leight has also spoken on the new season, indicating that the series plans to tackle storylines related to the Black Lives Matter movement and COVID-19. Look for SVU to premiere on NBC on Nov. 12.