Could Raul Esparza return to Law & Order: SVU in the future?
Let’s start with the bad. According to a report from Entertainment Weekly, Esparza is leaving the series as a series regular. Barba made the decision to walk away after deciding that he could not view the job the same way as he once could. That was a difficult thing for him to reconcile, but after almost going to jail he determined that departing was the right choice. Philip Winchester is poised to be a big part of the series moving forward, and it looks as though the series is going to have plenty of tension between Stone and Benson moving forward.
Here is the good news: Barba’s time on SVU isn’t necessarily over. In a statement, showrunner Michael Chernuchin had the following to say:
“It has truly been an honor writing for Raúl … The power, sensitivity, and morality he brought to the character of Rafael Barba never failed to elevate our scripts. Raúl is family and we look forward to seeing his talent shine in new projects. As for Barba, SVU fans may see him again soon.”
Meanwhile, Esparza himself confirmed to the website above why he decided to depart the show as a regular:
I’ve done six seasons, I felt like it was time to go. I had explored a lot of what I thought Barba was about. I just felt it was time to move on. I was also feeling like the role has changed over the years in a way that has been an interesting experience for me. Again, I’m a theater guy, so it’s like having a script in front of you that keeps changing every time you go to do it. The learning process of how roles grow over a period of time with a series has been kind of fascinating, and I just felt I had reached the end of what I wanted to explore where they were writing.
Esparza later added that he is “absolutely” interested in coming back, in part because he wants to be a part of the series’ legacy and getting to that landmark 20th century. We have a feeling that we haven’t seen the last of Barba, though in what capacity remains to be seen.
How do you think Esparza could return to SVU in the future? Share in the comments!
(Photo: NBC.)