Richard Belzer will return on 'Law & Order: SVU'

NEW YORK, March 22 (UPI) -- Richard Belzer is returning to Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Media outlets confirmed the news after Entertainment Weekly announced the 71-year-old actor will reprise John Munch on Season 17 of the NBC police procedural in May.

The episode "Fashionable Crimes" will see Munch "weigh in on the case of a young model who claims she was preyed upon by a famous fashion house photographer." The photographer had been on Munch and Fin Tutuola's (Ice-T) radar for some time.

Belzer first played Munch on Homicide: Life on the Street and went on to star on the first 15 seasons of Law & Order: SVU. His character retired from the NYPD in Season 15 and was last seen on the Season 15 finale in 2014.

"We love having Richard back on set," executive producer Warren Leight told EW. "This episode was perfect for Munch's cynical eye, and just the right time for him to give [Olivia] Benson [(Mariska Hargitay)] and Noah some much needed support."

Law & Order: SVU premiered in 1999 and was renewed for an 18th season in February. The series co-stars Tamara Tunie as Melinda Warner and Kelli Giddish as Amanda Rollins, and airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET.