Law & Order: SVU to tackle George Floyd killing and COVID-19 pandemic when it returns for season 22

Hollywood is still on lockdown as productions are halted amid the growing coronavirus pandemic.

But several shows are ready to get back up and running, and have some topical source material.

It has been revealed that Law & Order: Special Victims Unit will tackle the police killing of George Floyd when production continues and it returns for season 22. 

Showrunner Warren Leight said on The Hollywood Reporter’s podcast TV’s Top 5: ‘There are ways, we will find our way in to tell the story. 

‘Presumably our cops will still be trying to do the right thing but it’s going to be harder for them and they’re going to understand why it’s hard for them.’

It comes as nationwide peaceful Black Lives Matter protests have escalated to riots, due to heavy police presence.

Protests began last week after the killing of Floyd, an unarmed Black man, by Minneapolis ex-police officer Derek Chauvin.

Leight continued: ‘Change will start taking place on TV shows individually. There will be lip service paid.’

He also revealed that he’s been making changes to the show’s writers’ room in ‘a conscious effort to bring in new voices, fresh voices, different voices.’

The showrunner added: ‘I think we’ve tried really hard in the last year to show how class and race affect the outcomes of justice in society, but I’m beginning to suspect “really hard” wasn’t enough.

‘This has to be a moment where people make themselves uncomfortable, where people in power have to make themselves uncomfortable.’

He also revealed that the series will touch on the ongoing coronavirus pandemic when it returns. 

Leight said: ‘We’re going to reflect New York in the pandemic. What happens to someone who is sexually assaulted during the height of the coronavirus outbreak.’

One of the show’s crew members Josh Wallwork died of COVID-19 back in March, shortly after production was halted.