Christopher Meloni—of purposeful, powerhouse performance fame in landmark series and films—is out here changing the game. He will be headlining an untitled NFL drama on Hulu from Dan Fogelman. Known for his roles in “Law & Order: SVU,” “Happy!,” and “Wet Hot American Summer,” Meloni’s casting was officially announced in October 2024, generating excitement among fans and industry insiders alike.
Fogelman, creator and executive producer of the hit series “This Is Us” and “Paradise,” introduced Meloni’s casting on Instagram Thursday. He introduced Meloni to the squad with as much excitement as the photo, writing in the caption, “Welcome to the team @chris_meloni. This joint project marks a major high point of Meloni’s deep career. He will be appearing in the Netflix movie Little Brother coming out this fall.
Born in Washington, D.C. Meloni’s ties to the game of football certainly is not just surface level. He was a dynamic player in high school, playing quarterback for his team at St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School in Virginia. In 1978, he took the team to its first undefeated season. This achievement earned the team a place in the school’s Hall of Fame, highlighting Meloni’s athletic prowess before he ventured into acting.
The currently-untitled Hulu series is taking a deep look into the NFL world. It gets into the moral ambiguities and moral drama that’s at the heart of professional football. Fogelman, in addition to writing the series, will serve as executive producer. He’ll work alongside Jess Rosenthal, President of Skydance Sports, and the Skydance Sports leadership team, including David Ellison, Jesse Sisgold, and Jason T. Reed.
Enormously talented and versatile, Meloni has amassed a rolodex of admired characters from all genres. He gained fame as Elliot Stabler on “Law & Order: SVU” and its spin-off “Law & Order: Organized Crime.” His filmography as an actor and producer includes notable roles in cult classics like “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle” and television series “Oz.” On top of that, he mesmerized fans with his goofily deranged performance in Syfy’s “Happy!” and has thus far been a regular in the zeitgeist of modern cinema.
Most recently, Meloni made waves on the red carpet at the New York Special Screening of MARVEL STUDIOS’ “THUNDERBOLTS,” hosted by The Cinema Society on April 30, 2025. Yet, his presence at events like such high-profile productions presented by The GRAMMYs or Tidal further proves he’s still of cultural clout and cross-industry relevance.
