Law & Order: SVU Faces Cast Changes After Season 26
Change is on the horizon for the squad room of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. News has emerged that Juliana Martinez and Octavio Pisano will not be returning as series regulars should the long-running NBC drama be renewed for its 27th season, according to reports.
Martinez joined the cast in Season 26 as Detective Kate Silva, while Pisano made his first appearance in Season 23 as Detective Joe Velasco, a former undercover operative with a complex past.
While NBC has not yet released an official statement regarding the reasons for their departures, sources suggest that the decision could be linked to cost-cutting measures being implemented across the network’s scripted drama lineup.
Budget Cuts Across NBC
SVU isn't the only show feeling the financial pinch. NBCUniversal recently renewed its One Chicago franchise – Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., and Chicago Med – but these renewals reportedly came with budget reductions that have affected cast size, episode counts, and overall production expenses. These adjustments reflect a broader trend throughout the television industry as networks prepare to present their fall programming to advertisers.
Despite these cast departures, the future of Law & Order: SVU seems secure. The show is widely expected to return for Season 27, further solidifying its position as the longest-running primetime live-action drama in television history.
The upcoming season will also mark a significant change behind the scenes, as Michele Fazekas steps into the role of showrunner, becoming the first woman to hold that position on the series. This is a particularly noteworthy development for a show that focuses on the experiences of survivors of sexual assault and other sexually-based crimes.
The Core Cast Remains
Mariska Hargitay continues to be the heart of SVU as Captain Olivia Benson, leading a cast that includes Ice T as Sergeant Fin Tutuola, Peter Scanavino as ADA-turned-Detective Dominick “Sonny” Carisi, and Kevin Kane as Detective Terry Bruno.
A Surprising Exit
The departure of Juliana Martinez is particularly surprising, as she stated in October that she believed her character would be a long-term addition to the show. “They were very intentional about my casting. I think they wanted to make sure they got someone that could fit in with the cast, and who could be with the cast on a long-term basis and really contribute to the squad.”
Martinez emphasized this point by noting that the production team had her screen test for the role, which is uncommon unless a cast member is expected to remain with the show for an extended period. “They hadn’t done a screen test for someone in the cast [in a long time],” Martinez continued. “So, they were very intentional about, ‘We want someone to be a part of the squad.’ And I really felt that from day one from them.”
Fans can watch the current season of SVU every Thursday on NBC and stream episodes the following day on Peacock.