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The SVU Squad: Inside The Shocking New Cast And Major Returns Of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 27

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The longest-running primetime live-action series in television history, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (SVU), is back with a vengeance for its landmark twenty-seventh season, bringing with it a mix of beloved returning faces and exciting new dynamics. As of December 22, 2025, the squad room at the 16th Precinct is buzzing with fresh energy following major cast promotions, the surprising full-time return of a fan-favorite sergeant, and a premiere episode that delivered a shocking death and a long-awaited 'Bensler' moment that has viewers talking.

The latest season, helmed by new showrunner Michele Fazekas, promises to dive deeper into the personal and professional lives of the Special Victims Unit, tackling complex cases while exploring the ever-evolving relationships within Captain Olivia Benson’s team. This is the ultimate, up-to-date guide to the full cast lineup, their characters, and the recent career highlights of the stars who bring the New York City detectives to life.

The Current Law & Order: SVU Season 27 Main Cast Profiles

The core of the Special Victims Unit remains strong, anchored by two of the longest-running characters in TV history. Season 27 sees a newly solidified team with several key players receiving promotions to series regular status, reflecting their importance to the squad’s structure.

  • Mariska Hargitay as Captain Olivia Benson
    Role: Captain, Commander of the Special Victims Unit.
    Biography & Recent News: Hargitay, who has played Benson since the show's 1999 premiere, is an Emmy and Golden Globe winner. Outside of *SVU*, she continues her tireless advocacy work with the Joyful Heart Foundation. In 2024, she won a Best Actress award, and in May 2025, she launched her own production company, Mighty Entertainment. Her feature film directorial debut, the documentary *My Mom Jayne*, about her mother Jayne Mansfield, won a Critics Choice Documentary Award in late 2025, proving her influence extends far beyond the small screen.
  • Ice T as Sergeant Odafin "Fin" Tutuola
    Role: Sergeant, Second-in-Command of the Special Victims Unit.
    Biography & Recent News: Born Tracy Lauren Marrow, Ice T is a cultural icon, known equally for his pioneering career as a rapper and his long-running role on *SVU*, which he joined in Season 2. Fin remains the stoic, street-smart backbone of the squad. Ice T continues to tour and record with his metal band, Body Count, maintaining a dual career that is unique in television.
  • Peter Scanavino as A.D.A. Dominick "Sonny" Carisi Jr.
    Role: Assistant District Attorney (A.D.A.).
    Biography & Recent News: Scanavino, who joined the cast in Season 16 as a detective before transitioning to the A.D.A. role, was born Peter Muller Scanavino on February 29, 1980. He is married to artist Lisha Bai, and the couple has three children. His character's relationship with Sergeant Rollins (Rollisi) is one of the most stable and beloved pairings in the show's history, adding a vital personal dimension to the legal drama.
  • Kelli Giddish as Sergeant Amanda Rollins
    Role: Sergeant, former Detective with the SVU.
    Biography & Recent News: After exiting as a full-time cast member in Season 24, Giddish has officially returned as a series regular for Season 27, a decision largely influenced by overwhelming fan demand. Her character, Amanda Rollins, is back at the 16th Precinct to explore new storylines, balancing her career with her family life with A.D.A. Carisi.
  • Kevin Kane as Detective Terry Bruno
    Role: Detective, Special Victims Unit.
    Biography & Recent News: Kevin Kane, who portrays the dry-witted Detective Bruno, has been promoted to a series regular, solidifying his place in the squad. Interestingly, Kane has played a total of five different characters on *SVU* throughout its history before landing his long-term role as Detective Bruno, showcasing his long association with the Dick Wolf universe.
  • Aimé Donna Kelly as Captain Renee Curry
    Role: Captain, NYPD Chief’s Office.
    Biography & Recent News: Aimé Donna Kelly has been a recurring presence since 2020, and her character, Captain Curry, has become a key figure in the precinct’s political landscape. A graduate of the University of the Arts, Kelly's character often provides a necessary counterpoint to Benson’s methods, especially when dealing with the complexities of the NYPD Chief's Office.

Major Cast Changes and Shocking Season 27 Storylines

Season 27 has quickly established itself as a season of major transitions and high-stakes drama, moving past the departures of Detectives Joe Velasco (Octavio Pisano) and Kate Silva (Juliana Aidén Martinez) from the previous season.

The Return of Rollins and the New Detective

The biggest news for fans was undoubtedly the full-time return of Sergeant Amanda Rollins (Kelli Giddish). The actress herself stated that returning in 2025 "feels right," and her character's re-entry provides a vital familiar presence for Captain Benson. Rollins' new position means exploring the trade-offs of balancing her high-pressure police work with her marriage to A.D.A. Carisi and raising her children.

The squad also welcomed a new face: Detective Jake Griffin (Corey Cott). Assigned to the unit by a higher-up, Detective Griffin’s initial arc involves a rocky start with Captain Benson, as he is immediately suspicious of the squad’s operations and has already gone rogue on a case, prompting a formal apology to Benson. Fans of the *Law & Order* franchise will recall that actor Corey Cott previously played a different role on *SVU*, a common occurrence in the Dick Wolf universe.

Benson, Stabler, and the Cragen Memorial

The Season 27 premiere was a must-watch event, opening with a major death—a shocking development that will drive the early season’s narrative. Furthermore, the episode featured a moving memorial for the legendary former Captain Donald Cragen (Dann Florek), which served as a poignant reunion for several franchise veterans.

This emotional event brought back familiar faces like Dr. George Huang (BD Wong) and Brian Cassidy (Dean Winters), but all eyes were on the dynamic between Captain Benson and her former partner, Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni). The Season 27 premiere delivered a "huge moment" between the two, giving renewed hope to the legions of "Bensler" shippers. Even Ice T weighed in, acknowledging the palpable romantic tension between the two characters that has been building for decades.

The Legacy and Topical Authority of SVU

Now in its 27th season, *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* is more than just a police procedural; it is a cultural institution that has tackled some of the most sensitive and complex social issues of the past quarter-century. The show's commitment to telling these difficult stories, often drawing from real-life headlines, is what maintains its powerful topical authority.

Under the leadership of its creator, Dick Wolf, the series continues to explore themes of justice, trauma, and redemption. The current cast, including the newly promoted Detective Bruno and the politically engaged Captain Curry, ensures that the squad has diverse perspectives for navigating the modern legal and societal landscape. With the return of Rollins and the persistent, unresolved tension between Benson and Stabler, Season 27 is poised to be one of the most emotionally resonant and critically discussed seasons in the show’s storied history on NBC.

cast of law & order special victims
cast of law & order special victims

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