Kelli Giddish Set to Return for Season 27 of ‘Law & Order: SVU’

A known character will be making a full-time return to the Special Victims Unit in the upcoming season.

Kelli Giddish’s Amanda Rollins is set to rejoin “Law & Order: SVU” as a series regular in Season 27, as confirmed by TODAY.com. The initial report was made by Deadline.

Rollins first became part of the team in 2011, but Giddish announced her exit after 12 seasons with the series in August 2022.

Since leaving her full-time role in Season 24, she has made several guest appearances on “SVU.” Her character has progressed from a Special Victims Unit detective to a sergeant in the Intelligence Unit, often lending assistance to her former colleagues.

This announcement follows the exits of two other cast members: Octavio Pisano and Juliana Aidén Martinez, who will depart after Season 26. The season finale titled “Post-Rage” will air Thursday on NBC at 9 p.m. ET.

Mariska Hargitay, the star of the show (Capt. Olivia Benson), has been candid about her wish to continue collaborating with Giddish. She shared with Variety in 2024 that she advocated for her friend’s return, though the final decision rests with series creator Dick Wolf.

“It’s a sensitive topic. I have a significant voice on the show, but it wasn’t enough this time,” she expressed.

Speaking to TODAY.com in an interview in October 2024, Hargitay noted that working with Giddish, who was guest-starring in an “SVU” episode at that moment, “feels like home.”

“I can’t even express how much I adore this woman,” she remarked. “I love her as a person, I love her as an actress, and her presence on set brings me immense joy, it feels like a comforting breath. We have a great time together.”

“It’s all so genuine, hard-earned, and truly exciting. … I want her to be present in every episode,” she added.

Hargitay isn’t the only member of the “SVU” family who appreciates Giddish’s presence.

Her on-screen husband, Peter Scanavino, who portrays ADA Dominick “Sonny” Carisi, has expressed nothing but admiration for her.

In an April interview with TODAY.com, he referred to her as “an incredible actress and person.”

Giddish announced her exciting news on her Instagram, sharing a screenshot of Deadline’s announcement.

Fans have shown their enthusiasm for her comeback in the comments section.

“Kelli, I couldn’t be happier! Welcome back home!!!!” one fan exclaimed.

“Welcome back KG, you’ve been missed. Amanda Rollins is returning to us,” another added.

“Thrilled to see our favorite Sergeant back!!!” a different fan wrote.