The SVU Shakeup: Who’s In, Who’s Out, And The Shock Return Of Amanda Rollins For Season 27

The landscape of the Special Victims Unit has changed dramatically for the 2025-2026 television season, with a monumental cast shakeup hitting the longest-running primetime drama in TV history. As of December 2025, *Law & Order: SVU* is deep into its historic 27th season, a run defined by the unbreakable bond between its central characters and the constant rotation of new detectives and ADAs. The latest season brings not only the familiar faces of Captain Olivia Benson and Sergeant Fin Tutuola but also the unexpected, full-time return of a beloved detective, alongside the quiet departures of two recent fan favorites.

The current season, which premiered on September 25, 2025, has already solidified a new dynamic for the squad room, balancing the gravity of their cases with the personal evolution of its central figures. This article breaks down the definitive main cast of *SVU* Season 27, details the major departures from Season 26, and provides a deep dive into the careers of the show's legendary anchors.

The SVU Main Cast: Deep Dive & Biographical Profiles (Season 27)

The heart of the Special Victims Unit remains its veteran core, led by Mariska Hargitay and Ice-T, who have collectively anchored the series for decades. Their commitment and the immense salaries they command—Hargitay reportedly earns $500,000 per episode, while Ice-T earns around $250,000—reflect their irreplaceable status in the Dick Wolf universe.

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Mariska Hargitay as Captain Olivia Benson

• Full Name: Mariska Magdolna Hargitay
• Born: January 23, 1964, Santa Monica, California, U.S.
• Role: Captain, Special Victims Unit (formerly Detective, Sergeant, and Lieutenant).
• First Appearance: Series Premiere (1999)
• Key Fact: Hargitay is the only cast member to have appeared in every single episode of the series. She is also an active philanthropist, founding the Joyful Heart Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.

Ice-T as Sergeant Odafin “Fin” Tutuola

• Full Name: Tracy Lauren Marrow
• Born: February 16, 1958, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
• Role: Sergeant, Special Victims Unit.
• First Appearance: Season 2 Premiere, "Wrong Is Right" (2000)
• Key Fact: Ice-T is a pioneer of both gangster rap and rap-metal. His role as Fin Tutuola is his longest-running acting job, making him one of the most recognizable faces in the *Law & Order* franchise.

Kelli Giddish as Sergeant Amanda Rollins (The Shock Return)

• Role: Sergeant, formerly Detective.
• First Appearance: Season 13 Premiere, "Scorched Earth" (2011)
• Key Fact: Giddish originally departed as a series regular in Season 24. Her return as a full-time series regular for Season 27 is a massive, highly-anticipated development that has thrilled the fanbase, as she reprises her role after a period of recurring guest appearances.

Peter Scanavino as ADA Dominick “Sonny” Carisi Jr.

• Role: Assistant District Attorney (ADA).
• First Appearance: Season 16 Premiere, "Girls Disappeared" (2014)
• Key Fact: Carisi is one of the few characters to successfully transition from a detective role to the legal side of the house, offering a critical bridge between the police and the courtroom. He is married to Amanda Rollins.

The New Dynamic: Promotions and Recent Departures

The 26th season saw a significant restructuring of the squad, which has carried over into the current Season 27. The show continues its tradition of introducing new blood to keep the police procedural fresh, but this also means saying goodbye to others.

Detective Terry Bruno: Upped to Series Regular

A key new face in the squad room is Detective Terry Bruno, played by Kevin Kane. Bruno was first introduced during Season 24 in a recurring capacity and was officially promoted to a series regular for Season 26. His inclusion ensures the squad has a full complement of detectives to work alongside Benson and Fin, bringing a different, often more sardonic, energy to the unit.

The Quiet Exits: Velasco and Silva Clock Out

The end of Season 26 marked the departure of two established detectives: Joe Velasco and Kate Silva. These exits have created the space for Rollins' dramatic return and the promotion of Bruno.

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• Octavio Pisano (Detective Joe Velasco): Velasco, who joined in Season 23, was written out of the show at the conclusion of Season 26. His exit was reportedly a pre-planned storyline decision, concluding his arc with the Special Victims Unit.
• Juliana Aidén Martinez (Detective Kate Silva): Martinez, who played Detective Kate Silva, also departed as a series regular after Season 26. Her character’s exit from the squad was never explicitly explained on-screen, though the actress quickly moved on to a role in another Dick Wolf series, *The FBI*.

These departures highlight the fluid nature of the *SVU* cast, where only Benson and Fin seem truly immune to the showrunner's pen. The constant flux of detectives and ADAs keeps the procedural drama grounded in a sense of realistic, if dramatic, professional movement.

The Topical Authority: Why SVU Endures into Season 27

The longevity of *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* is a case study in television history, largely due to its commitment to tackling complex, often ripped-from-the-headlines cases, and the emotional depth of its main characters. The show’s topical authority extends beyond its fictional New York City police department, touching on real-world issues of sexual assault, domestic violence, and human trafficking.

The continued presence of Captain Olivia Benson has provided a constant, empathetic anchor for viewers. Her journey from a street detective to the commanding officer of the Special Victims Unit is the emotional backbone of the series. The dynamic between Benson and Ice-T’s Fin Tutuola—a detective who has evolved from a cynical outsider to a trusted sergeant and mentor—provides a necessary balance of heart and hard-boiled realism.

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The return of Kelli Giddish as Sergeant Amanda Rollins, a character whose personal struggles with gambling, motherhood, and a complicated relationship with Carisi have made her one of the most relatable figures, is a strategic move to boost the show's emotional core. This re-integration of a major character ensures Season 27 maintains a strong link to its recent past, even as it sheds other members of the squad.

As the show continues, its ability to weave in familiar faces, like potential guest appearances from former stars such as Christopher Meloni (Detective Elliot Stabler), alongside the new dynamics of the current squad, guarantees its continued success as the most watched police procedural in television history.