Law & Order: SVU fans were shocked when it was announced that Octavio Pisano and Juliana Martinez would be leaving the show after season 26. The season finale saw Velasco (Pisano) being promoted to detective second grade, with Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and the team celebrating his accomplishments before diving into a new case. The promotion ceremony for Velasco and others served as a reminder of his growth within the SVU squad.
While the show did not officially explain the departure of Velasco and Silva (Martinez), news broke earlier this month confirming their exit. Pisano first joined Law & Order: SVU in season 23, while Martinez came on board during season 26. The show has been renewed for season 27, with Michele Fazekas announced as the first female showrunner.
Law & Order: SVU, which premiered in 1999, follows detectives from the NYPD’s Special Victims Unit as they investigate and prosecute sexually-based crimes. The legal drama stars Hargitay, Ice T, Peter Scanavino, and Kevin Kane, with a revolving door of cast members over the years.
While the exit of Velasco and Silva remains unclear, fans can look forward to the return of Kelli Giddish’s Rollins in season 27. Giddish originally departed the show in the middle of season 24 in 2022 but appeared as a guest star in subsequent seasons before being confirmed as a series regular for the upcoming season.
The Law & Order universe, including the original Law & Order and Law & Order: Organized Crime, continues to thrive on NBC amidst other show cancellations. NBC recently announced the cancellation of Lopez vs. Lopez, Night Court, Found, The Irrational, and Suits LA, while renewing The Hunting Party and Brilliant Minds. The network’s decision to prioritize the NBA, with a lucrative 11-year deal, influenced its programming choices.
President of Program Planning Strategy for NBCUniversal Entertainment, Jeff Bader, explained that the network evaluated show performance and potential audience capture when making renewal and cancellation decisions. Law & Order: SVU is available for streaming on Peacock, ensuring fans can continue to enjoy the beloved series.
