SVU Season 27 Welcomes Back Octavio Pisano with Hargitay’s Sneak Peek
Kai Montgomery here. Great, I get to tell you that Detective Joe Velasco is not going off grid after all. According to E! News, Octavio Pisano will return to Law & Order: Special Victims Unit for the season 27 premiere, giving fans closure on his storyline that began in season 23 back in 2021. Mariska Hargitay made the reveal in a behind the scenes Instagram video posted July 24, where she teased “Guess what, people? I am back” and casually showed Pisano lurking in the studio so naturally you know it is legit. “First day back. SVU, we are about to rehearse,” the Emmy winning actress added, confirming reports from E! News that the actor’s comeback is set in stone.
Pisano stepped onto the series as Detective Joe Velasco three years ago, bringing a fresh edge to Benson’s squad. His departure announcement in May alongside Juliana Aidén Martinez, who played Detective Kate Silva, sent shock waves through social feeds. Martinez is not vanishing into thin air, however; she is shifting to Dick Wolf’s FBI franchise in season eight. Pisano’s return ups the stakes this fall as he prepares to tie up loose ends for his character in the very first episode of season 27.
Fans can expect more familiar faces when the cameras start rolling. Kelli Giddish, who bowed out as Detective Amanda Rollins in 2022, confirmed her comeback via E! News in May. Rollins’ return promises all the tension and gritty determination that made her a fan favorite before her exit. If you were hoping for a fresh squad without any old guard, tough luck. Benson’s team is getting crowded again.
As for Hargitay herself, she is not ready to hand over Olivia Benson’s badge just yet. In an October interview with E! News, the 60 year old admitted she has thought about life after SVU but refuses to set a departure date. “I am very engaged and fulfilled at SVU right now,” she said. “I am somebody who follows the signs and trusts that the future will be right.” With multiple projects rumored in the pipeline, Benson’s captain is keeping her options open while still holding court at the bullpen.
This sort of revolving door is nothing new in Hollywood crime dramas. In recent months, General Hospital said goodbye to Sasha Gilmore actress Sofia Mattsson after seven years. Bravo’s The Valley will continue without Jax Taylor for season three as he focuses on his sobriety and co parenting. Over on Law & Order proper, Mehcad Brooks exited after three seasons as Detective Jalen Shaw. HBO Max’s medical drama The Pitt lost star Tracy Ifeachor following its first season, and The Last of Us stunned viewers with Pedro Pascal’s Joel Miller meeting an untimely end. It seems no role is sacred.
So there you have it. Pisano resurfaces, Martinez migrates to FBI, Giddish stages a return, and Benson herself remains firmly at her desk. If that is not enough cast juggle for you, grab a coffee and a notepad because this parade of comings and goings shows no sign of stopping. Well, that was your weekly dose of showbiz stability. Moving on.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! News
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
