‘Law & Order: SVU’: Octavio Pisano & Juliana Aidén Martinez to Exit After Season 26
Should Law & Order: SVU return for Season 27, which seems likely, it will do so without two of its regular cast.
Octavio Pisano, who has played Detective Joe Velasco since Season 23, and Juliana Aidén Martinez, who was introduced this year as Detective Kate Silva, will not be back as series regulars, Deadline reports. A reason has not been given for these exits, nor do we know if either could return in a guest star capacity next year. Shakeups in the squad aren’t new; only Mariska Hargitay, who stars as Captain Olivia Benson, has been with the show from the beginning. Ice-T (Sergeant Odafin “Fin” Tutuola) joined the series in Season 2. (Christopher Meloni starred as Detective Eliot Stabler for the first 12 seasons before exiting and now leads his own spinoff, Organized Crime, which is releasing its fifth season on Peacock.)
This isn’t the only change the series will see for a 27th season. A new showrunner will be in charge. Michele Fazekas is taking over (and will be the show’s first female showrunner) from David Graziano, who has held the position for three seasons.
According to Deadline’s report, we’ll have to wait to see if the SVU Season 26 finale, “Post-Rage,” on Thursday, May 15, reveals how their absences will be explained next season. It could very well be that the Season 27 premiere will feature a couple lines of dialogue to explain where they are, like different units in the NYPD. The logline for the Season 26 finale teases, “Benson investigates a string of sexual assaults targeting local female psychiatrists. The squad celebrates a promotion.” Could Velasco or Silva be the promotion and it takes that person out of SVU?
In addition to Hargitay and Ice-T, SVU also stars Peter Scanavino as ADA Sonny Carisi and Kevin Kane as Detective Terry Bruno. Aimé Donna Kelly recurs as Captain Curry. And Kelli Giddish, after exiting as a series regular in Season 24, has been recurring this year as now-Sergeant Amanda Rollins.
Are you going to miss Detectives Velasco and Silva? Let us know how you’d like SVU to write them out in the comments section below.
Law & Order: SVU, Thursdays, 9/8c, NBC
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G
I love Octavio,but they never gave him enough to do! I hope he gets a new show that showcases his gorgeous looks and talent!
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C
Totally agree Rob.
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G
Absolutely!!
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G
There have been so many different characters it’s confusing. I love Octavio, Kelly is on and off. She should be on every episode. Ice T was not on a few episodes. Why? Keep the regulars and stop putting on co-stars that we aren’t used to.
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They should bring Amanda back full time
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B
I miss Kelli as a regular. She's so good and should be back full time. I like Velasco. He's good with Olivia. Would like to see more of Carisi and IceT. Love this show.
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O
I loved Velasco, they just didn’t give him enough airtime. He deserved so much more. He is a great actor and fits in perfectly, but I just don’t know why they don’t give them enough to do on the show. Not surprised about Kat leaving I never thought she fit too well. But it’s always funny. The Hispanics always leave that show. It’s a trip. I don’t know what the deal is with that but keep one and let them stay. Octavio should not be going anywhere. I hope he lands somewhere where they give them the airtime he deserves I sure will watch him.
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C
The ever revolving door of law and order… it’s getting old. Like both these characters…
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B
This is disappointing, but not surprising. I like Velasco and felt Silva was a great addition to the squad. I'll miss them both. So now our squad will be one captain (Benson), who should be doing administrative and supervisory work, a la Cragen, another captain (Curry) doing detective work, a sergeant (Fin), another sergeant (Rollins) occasionally stepping in, and one lone, plain old detective, Bruno. That is a ridiculous configuration. I get money is an issue on these long-running shows, but I have to believe there are better ways to deal with it then constantly ushering the newbies out the door.
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O
I liked Kat
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G
Noooo😭 I like Velasco! KG {A.Rollins} should be back on full time. Well wish him the best, hope to see him on another show.
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G
I like Velasco and Silva, but not surprised by this. Maybe NBC would prefer a revolving door for cast and.crew?
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B
I will miss them.
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P
I think that Octavio and Juliana are a great asset to the show. I love their passion and commitment. I like how he’s overcome and came out on top. As well as Julianna I like the strong woman police detective she is. She’s just the right amount of tough and caring in her. I hate to see them go. I love them both along with Kevin and of course Mariska and Ice -t. Those 5 are your SVU Detectives…
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O
I am sick to death that my Favorite characters are being written out of my Favorite NBC shows! And Velasco should Definitely Not be going! I don’t understand what all the shakeups are about! Leave all our beloved characters alone or I’m sure your ratings will go down just like CBS for canceling all their good shows!
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I want both of them to go out in a blaze of glory!
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G
I like Velasco and wish he was staying with the show also like Amanda and wish she’d come back keep the regulars and the continuity of the show
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O
Of course lets get rid of the hispanics first
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