Law & Order: SVU's Heartthrob Elliot Stabler Could’ve Been Played by an MCU Star

After nearly 25 years on the small screen, it's hard to imagine Law & Order: Special Victims Unit ’s leads being played by anyone other than Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni.

Not only did they prove that they understood their characters and developed them over the seasons, but they also had great chemistry with each other and the rest of the cast. From day one, this was one of the reasons the audience could really connect with the show and stick around for almost a quarter of the century.

However, there was a possibility that Detective Elliot Stabler could have been played by a completely different actor. Although Meloni's presence was always strong, there was a contender who even got a chance to read opposite Mariska Hargitay.

That was none other than John Slattery, also known to audiences as Howard Stark in the MCU 's Captain America: Civil War ( 2016) and Avengers: Endgame (2018). Considering the talent and charisma of both actors and the fact that they're almost the same age, the choice for Stabler must have been a tough one.

In the end, though, the role went to Christopher Meloni, and audiences couldn't be happier.

For John Slattery, things also worked out for the best, as the actor was given a variety of opportunities to explore. From Victor Lang on Desperate Housewives to Roger Sterling on Mad Men, the role that earned him four Primetime Emmy nominations and two SAG AFTRA Awards as part of an Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series, he has had a successful career.

What's interesting is that Slattery ended up appearing on Law & Order twice, in 1998 and 2000, but both times he portrayed the bad guy in the story. He played secondary roles in episodes titled Tabloid (S8E23) and Stiff (S10E23). What a reason to choose sides!

If you want to see what Christopher Meloni's Elliot Stabler is up to today as part of the Law & Order: Organized Crime group, you can stream the series on Fubo TV or on NBC's website.