NBC threatening to replace SVU stars Mariska Hargity and Chris Meloni over contract negotiations?

It’s been leaked that NBC is playing hardball with it’s Law & Order: SVU stars Mariska Hargity and Chris Meloni in contract negotiations. Hargity and Meloni have been each making $350,000 per episode but their contracts expire in May. The two have reportedly “banded together” as they have done previously, to demand a bigger paycheck, according to The Ausiello Files. NBC has already announced an 11th season for it’s #1 scripted drama.

With each actor already making over $7 million a year it’s hard to see either walking away from that kind of money but still I think they have most the leverage. The original Law & Order series has swapped out most of it’s stars mostly one at a time though, while sustaining it’s popularity but it’s a stretch to think they could get rid of both SVU stars who are vital to the show and not take a serious rating hit. It’s probably just me but I think Mariska in particular is the life blood of the show. And since the two are negotiating together it probably means give both get a raise or they replace both.