‘Law & Order: SVU’ Season 27 Will Be Olivia Benson’s Most Challenging Case Yet
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit returns for Season 27 tonight. Now, fans are getting the first look at what lies ahead for the historic season, as SVU remains the longest-running police procedural on network television. The Mariska Hargitay-led series enters the new season with several changes behind and in front of the camera, chiefly a new showrunner with Gen V‘s Michele Fazekas, who has previously written and produced for the Dick Wolf property. Fazekas is detailing what challenges lie ahead for Hargitay’s Captain Olivia Benson ahead of the season premiere. She also touches on the tone she hopes to bring back for the long-running drama. Fazekas says the show will be “giving some challenges to Benson that she hasn’t had in a while. In a great way, we’re giving her something to push against.” She explains, “In some ways, I’m going back to when I was on the show, which was like seasons 3 through 7. I remember what we were doing then that worked well. It’s like, ‘Alright, we’re gonna bring some of that back.’”
Everything We Know About ‘Law & Order: SVU Season 27’
A number of changes have been announced on and off-screen for SVU. In addition to David Graziano exiting as showrunner and Fazekas taking over, Julie Martin also exited as a writer, along with Norberto Barba. Barba is expected to stay on as a director. On-screen, the show announced in the spring the exits of Juliana Aiden Martinez and Octavio Pisano, though Pisano has been spotted on set, so there may be an exit arc in store for Detective Joe Velasco, who was promoted at the end of Season 26. Kelli Giddish was announced to be returning as a series regular after dropping to a guest role after mid-Season 24. Aimé Donna Kelly was also bumped to series regular after joining the cast in Season 22. With a tough go of it in Season 26, the show may be hoping that the shakeups are for the better.
Just last month, SVU alum and Organized Crime lead, Christopher Meloni posted to social media, posing with Hargitay and Dann Florek on the set of the crime drama. Coupled with set images circulating that also feature former cast member Dean Winters, fans have speculated that a reunion may be taking place. With the nostalgia fest seemingly steamrolling into the first episode of Season 27, along with the potential of a Benson and Stabler romance finally turning canon after 27 long years, the premiere looks to be promising.