Will S. Epatha Merkerson return to Law & Order? Possibilities explored

The renewal of Dick Wolf’s Law & Order for its 25th season is one of the best news for the fans of the cult classic series, which first premiered in 1990. After 11 years of wrapping up its 20th season, the show came back on the screens with its 21st season in 2021.

With the show coming back, fans were also eager to see some familiar faces. One of them was S. Epatha Merkerson. She played the fan-favorite character of Lieutenant Anita Van Buren. Fans want to see the authoritative figure on the show back, but the chances of that happening seem slim. In a 2024 interview with TODAY, the veteran actress shared that while she would be happy to join the show, creator Dick Wolf might not allow that.

Merkerson is now a part of another Dick Wolf-created universe, the Chicago One universe, where she portrays the character of Chief Administrator of Gaffney Medical Centre, Sharon Goodwin, on Chicago Med. Her character in the show is also among the fan-favorite characters, and further, due to how big the show has become, the 72-year-old actress thinks that she might not be able to return to Law & Order.

More on this in our story.

Will S. Epatha Merkerson return to Law & Order? Possibilities explored

S. Epatha Merkerson joined Law & Order in Season 4 of the series as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren and was part of the show until Season 20. Apart from achieving the position of Lieutenant in the show, the 72-year-old actress also created another achievement in real life. She appeared in the procedural drama for 390 episodes, a record for an African American actress in television history.

However, when the show was brought back in 2021, she did not join the show as she was already appearing in Chicago Med with a role that was important in the show. When asked about returning to Law & Order, the actress told TODAY that she might not join back due to Chicago Med’s popularity. She said:

"I don’t think Dick (Wolf) will let me. The whole ‘One Chicago’ has been such a hit that I don’t know if they will allow me. It would be coming home because I live in New York. I would love it, but I’ve had a great time in Chicago. I’m not complaining. It’s a great group of people."

She also shared that it is great to be part of both the popular universes and that she is angry with anybody, as she has been working with Wolf and the NBC network for nearly 32 years.

Therefore, as per her own words, Merkerson might not appear in the procedural drama anytime soon.

Merkerson’s views on a potential crossover between Law & Order: SVU and Chicago Med

While her chances of appearing in Law & Order are slim right now, Merkerson has spoken previously about hoping for a crossover between the two Dick Wolf-created universes.

While talking to TODAY in 2022, the actress shared that she hoped for a crossover between Law & Order: SVU and her show, Chicago Med. She would reprise her Chicago Med character, Sharon Goodwin, and get to meet Olivia Benson’s Mariska. She quipped:

"We'd have to go as 'Med’. I think it would be like really cool if at some point we do a crossover, and Olivia Benson and I cross paths and we make a stop - a moment to say-"

While there has been no such confirmation about the crossover between both shows, and even if Merkerson appears in any of the Law & Order shows, she might portray her Chicago Med character, Sharon Goodwin, rather than Anita Van Buren.

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