A Fan-Favorite Is Returning to 'Law & Order: SVU' for Season 27

Following a conspicuous hiatus, a cherished figure from the team will reappear in the police station on an upcoming episode of Law & Order: SVU.

As reported by Variety, the character of Amanda Rollins, portrayed by actress Kelli Giddish, will be returning to the main cast for the upcoming 27th season.

In the thirteenth season, Giddish became a part of the NBC crime drama. However, she left the show during the twenty-fourth season to accept a teaching position at Fordham University.

In seasons 25 and 26, the detective occasionally popped up. Now that he’s permanently returned to the series, audiences will get to watch the real-life development of Rollins’ marriage with ADA Sonny Carisi Jr., played by Peter Scanavino.

Just announced by NBC, the long-running TV show SVU is returning for an unprecedented 27th season. Actors Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, and Scanavino will once again take on their iconic roles in this highly popular series.

Actors Octavio Pisano, known for his role as Detective Joe Velasco, and Juliana Aidén Martinez, famously portraying Detective Kate Silva, are set to leave the NBC show after its 26th season.

Hargitay told NBC Insider that she loves her job even after more than two decades.

She expressed her enthusiasm for going to work daily, appreciating the community she’s part of. She cherishes her fellow actors and crew members, as well as the closeness they share. What makes it even better is the collaborative environment that encourages hard work, enjoyment, and the best idea taking precedence. In her words, it’s like being on a unified team.

This team is simply remarkable, and I lean heavily on my fellow members. We’re more than just colleagues; we’re a cohesive whole. The bond we share means the world to me.” (Mariska Hargitay)

The original Law & Order is also officially returning for its milestone 25th season.

Currently, NBC has prolonged its agreement with Dick Wolf, the executive producer of “One Chicago“, by renewing all three shows: “Chicago Fire“, “Chicago P.D.“, and “Chicago Med“. In simpler terms, NBC has extended its contract with Dick Wolf for his “One Chicago” series, which include “Chicago Fire“, “Chicago P.D.“, and “Chicago Med“.

TV Actors Who Were Recast Within the First Season

Ross Butler on ‘Riverdale’

In the teen drama series on The CW that reimagines characters from “Archie Comics,” Ross Butler initially portrayed Reggie Mantle, Archie’s rival at Riverdale High. However, Butler had to depart at the end of the first season due to scheduling issues, and since then, Charles Melton has taken over the role.

As stated by series creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa: “We really appreciated how Ross portrayed Reggie this season, but due to his obligations with other projects, we couldn’t utilize him as extensively as we desired.” Despite these constraints, Butler managed to make a shocking comeback in character as the original Reggie for several scenes in Season 6. This coincided with other characters who made their return for the show’s landmark 100th episode.

Tamzin Merchant on ‘Game of Thrones’

Initially, the role of Daenerys Targaryen, the dragon queen, was offered to Tamzin Merchant. However, this role was later taken over by Emilia Clarke after Tamzin was replaced following the filming of the first, difficult-to-produce and ultimately unreleased pilot episode of “Game of Thrones.

Regarding the cast members, HBO executive Michael Lombardo stated: “We found ourselves needing to reassess a specific role, as it wasn’t fitting right. Everyone realized that Daenerys’ narrative path was crucial. The interactions between her and Jason just weren’t hitting the mark.

Eventually, she concluded that the position wasn’t suitable for her, expressing: “[Being rejected] served as a confirmation to heed my intuition and act upon it, since I attempted to withdraw from that scenario and, during the negotiation phase, I did withdraw. However, I was convinced to reconsider by some convincing individuals.

Jordan Reid on ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’

Initially, in the unbroadcast pilot of the popular FX sitcom “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” Kaitlin Olson, who is well-known for portraying Deandra “Sweet Dee” Reynolds, Dennis’ twin sister, was not featured. Instead, it was McElhenney’s girlfriend at the time, Jordan Reid, who played Dee during the pilot filmed by lead actors and writers Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney, and Charlie Day. This pilot helped secure the show on FX. However, due to some off-camera issues and Reid and McElhenney’s separation, she was let go from the role, which was eventually re-cast.

Jane Levy on ‘Shameless’

Initially, the debut season of Showtime’s American remake of the British show “Shameless” featured Jane Levy portraying Mandy Milkovich, a troubled teen who develops a friendship and makes advances towards the secretive Ian Gallagher. Following this first season, viewers might have been puzzled by Emma Greenwell taking over Levy’s role, as Levy chose to pursue a role she was more passionate about: the lead character on ABC’s “Suburgatory.

In an interview with Backstage, Levy expressed about the risk of “Suburgatory”: “I generally don’t get too invested in things; I prefer to keep moving forward. But this was the first one I auditioned for and it was thrilling. … When I discovered that it was actually going to materialize, I became quite ecstatic.

James Neate on ‘Pretty Little Liars’

In other words, following the completion of the initial episode, ABC Family decided to make some significant alterations in their adaptation of the well-known book series, one of which involved replacing the actor portraying the pivotal character Toby Cavanaugh, who is Jenna Marshall’s stepbrother and a key figure in the storyline.

Initially, James Neate portrayed the character Toby in the pilot episode of the show, but later on, Keegan Allen stepped into the role as Toby starting from the episodes that aired after the pilot. It is unclear why this change occurred, and it’s worth noting that this wasn’t the only instance where a character was recast following “Pretty Little Liars” Season 1. Another example is the character of Allison’s brother, Jason, who was also played by a different actor after the first season.

Phil Bruns on ‘Seinfeld’

In the iconic sitcom that bears his name, I found it challenging to disregard the captivating character of Jerry’s father, Morty Seinfeld, brilliantly portrayed by Barney Martin. However, in an intriguing Season 1 episode titled “The Stake Out,” which boasts a guest appearance from Jerry’s parents, it’s Phil Bruns who steps into the role.

Essentially, as per director Tom Cherones in the bonus features on the DVDs for Seasons 1 and 2, Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the showrunners of “Seinfeld,” decided they wanted Jerry’s father character to be more brash. This suggests that Bruns may not have conveyed the desired character tone.

Alessandra Torresani on ‘Arrested Development’

In the TV series “Arrested Development,” the character Ann Veal was intentionally designed to be forgettable, so viewers might not have noticed that Alessandra Torresani, her original actress, was replaced by Mae Whitman after Season 1. However, the underlying reason for the recast cleverly contributed to the humor surrounding her character’s extreme blandness: The idea was to give her the illusion of being constantly recast as different actors.

According to what Whitman shared in an interview, surprisingly, the showrunners opted to keep her on board. In a playful manner, they admitted: “We found out you were excelling at being forgettable; let’s run with that!

Rachel Dratch on ’30 Rock’

It seems impossible for a fan of the NBC sitcom “30 Rock” to envision anyone other than Jane Krakowski as Jenna Maroney. However, it’s worth noting that before the series aired, former SNL star and comedian Rachel Dratch initially took on the role during an unbroadcast pilot.

Initially, Liz Lemon’s close friend and star of the fictional “Girlie Show” was named Jenna DeCarlo in the unreleased pilot. However, due to a change in tone, actress Judy Greer (Krakowski) replaced her. Dratch, another cast member, explained this switch to the New York Post, stating that “The character’s direction had evolved, and it’s common for pilots to recast roles.

Jennifer Ehle on ‘Game of Thrones’

Daenerys Targaryen wasn’t the only significant “Game of Thrones” character who experienced changes after filming the initial, unbroadcast episode. Prior to the show being officially greenlit, the original actress for Catelyn Stark, Jennifer Ehle, chose not to be part of it anymore.

During an interview with The Daily Beast, Ehle shared that she discovered the series had been greenlit following six months of consistent work. She added, “At that time, my daughter was only seven months old when we filmed the pilot. For me, it was premature to be working, both emotionally and in terms of bonding.

Riff Regan on ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’

Alyson Hannigan’s depiction of Willow Rosenberg on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” is legendary, but her role could have gone to a different actor. Similar to numerous TV shows, “Buffy” originally had an unbroadcast pilot, and in this early version, Willow was played by Riff Regan instead.

During a special feature interview on the show’s DVD, casting director Marcia Shulman expressed that Regan wasn’t suitable for the role. She further clarified that when they received renewal, they felt it was best to search for a new actor to play Willow, as they wanted a fresh start.

Alex Borstein on ‘Gilmore Girls’

In the original pilot of “Gilmore Girls”, Alex Borstein, best known for “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and “Family Guy”, was cast as Sookie St. James instead of Melissa McCarthy. However, due to her commitments on “MADtv” at that time, they wouldn’t release her from the contract to join the “Gilmore Girls” team. In a 2013 interview with BuzzFeed, Borstein expressed her desire to juggle both roles but was unable to do so as they refused to share her services.

Lisa Kudrow on ‘Frasier’

Lisa Kudrow is primarily recognized as the quirky Phoebe Buffay from “Friends,” but for a short while, she played Roz Doyle, producer of Frasier Crane’s radio show on “Frasier.” Although she landed the role, it turned out that it wasn’t a good fit for her or the ensemble chemistry: “I just didn’t seem to suit the part, nor did I click with the group dynamic,” Kudrow stated on “The Howard Stern Show” in 2021.

Additionally, Kudrow believed she didn’t quite fit Burrows’ preferred style, which led to some minor obstacles when she joined the cast of “Friends”, another production by him.

As a devoted film enthusiast, I’d put it this way: In my blog, Ken Levine shared insights from Peter Casey, the co-creator of “Frasier”. He mentioned that Kudrow, our beloved cast member, wasn’t as forceful or assertive as required for the dynamic with Frasier. Over time, they softened the character of Roz to suit Kudrow, but eventually realized a change was necessary. With a heavy heart, they reached out to Kudrow and shared the difficult news that they were recasting her role.

Frances Fisher on ‘Home Improvement’

Originally known for her powerful performances in hit movies such as “Titanic” and “Unforgiven”, actress Frances Fisher was initially chosen to play the role of Tim Taylor’s wife, Jill, on the popular sitcom “Home Improvement”. At that time, Fisher was primarily recognized for her work on soap operas, and she had limited experience in comedy. As filming for the pilot episode commenced, Fisher was replaced by Patricia Richardson due to the fact that she seemed more like a victim next to Tim Allen’s character rather than an equal partner. According to “Home Improvement” co-star Richard Karn, who spoke with News.com, “Frances is a fantastic actress, but in this role with Tim [Allen], she appeared more as a victim to him than his peer.

Merrin Dungey on ‘Private Practice’

In 2007, during an episode of the long-running series “Grey’s Anatomy” that served as a precursor for the spinoff “Private Practice”, a new character named Dr. Naomi Bennett was introduced, portrayed by Merrin Dungey. But soon after this episode aired, it was revealed that Audra McDonald would be taking over the role for the full season debuting in fall. The reason behind this change was due to chemistry problems between Dungey and the actor playing her character’s estranged husband, Sam, who was portrayed by Taye Diggs, as reported by Variety.

Jazz Raycole on ‘My Wife and Kids’

Initially, fans of the hit sitcom “My Wife and Kids,” featuring Damon Wayans and Tisha Campbell, came across Jazz Raycole as Claire Kyle, Michael’s strong-willed teenage daughter, during Season 1. However, starting from Season 2, it might have taken viewers by surprise when Jennifer Freeman took over the role of Claire instead.

In an interview with The Christian Post back in 2012, Raycole shared that at 12 years old when she was cast, it essentially boiled down to producers preferring someone more mature for the role. Additional information from “The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable Shows” indicates that the change occurred due to Raycole’s mother objecting to a storyline involving one of Claire’s friends getting pregnant.

Maura Tierney on ‘Parenthood’

In the television adaptation of “Parenthood,” which was inspired by the 1989 film, actress Maura Tierney initially secured the part of Sarah Braverman, a key character. However, before the series debuted, the premiere was postponed to accommodate Tierney’s breast cancer treatments. Unfortunately, her recovery process took longer than expected, causing Tierney to step down from the role that later went to Lauren Graham during the show’s midseason return. In response to this change, an NBC representative expressed their sympathy and concern for Tierney’s swift and complete recovery.

Lori Rom on ‘Charmed’

Initially, Phoebe Halliwell from the acclaimed supernatural show “Charmed” was portrayed by Lori Rom, who is known for her role in “Dawson’s Creek”. However, this wasn’t the case in the final version. As Constance M. Burge, the series creator, shared in an interview with InTouch Weekly in 2018, Rom departed due to personal matters. Burge didn’t provide more details, but she mentioned that they were fortunate to have Alyssa Milano take over the role later on. Burge described it as unfortunate and sad when Rom left, but fortunately, everything worked out well with Alyssa joining the cast.

Miranda Otto on ‘Westworld’

Many might know Australian actress Miranda Otto from her performances in Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings” movie series and Netflix’s “The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.” However, for a short time, Otto appeared as a character on HBO’s “Westworld,” but was later replaced during filming of the pilot. Initially cast as Virginia Pittman, who headed the Quality Assurance department in Westworld, Otto was ultimately swapped out as producers reimagined the role. Danish actress Sidse Babett Knudsen took over the part, which was then renamed “Theresa Cullen.

Florencia Lozano on ‘Gossip Girl’

Initially, Florencia Lozano portrayed Eleanor Waldorf on “Gossip Girl” and even appeared in the show’s pilot. However, viewers might have found it unexpected that Lozano wasn’t seen in the role of Eleanor Waldorf beyond the first episode. Instead, Margaret Colin took over the part as Blair Waldorf’s mom starting from the fourth episode, a role she maintained throughout the series.

What led to the replacement of Eleanor? It’s not clear as there hasn’t been any official statement from the series creators or actors about the reason. However, in 2020, a TikTok user pointed out what seemed to be a significant plot inconsistency. Considering that Lozano was only 16 years older than Leighton Meester who played Blair, it’s speculated that producers might have preferred someone a bit more mature for the role.

Ruby Rose on ‘Batwoman’

Actor Ruby Rose initially assumed the role of Batwoman for the television series named after her character, which is based on Bruce Wayne’s vigilante cousin. However, at the end of the first season, she announced her departure. At first, the reason for her exit wasn’t clear, but sources later suggested it was due to difficulty adapting to the extended shooting hours in Vancouver: “It was like a breakup,” one source told TV Line. Eventually, Rose revealed that an injury she sustained in 2019 and the COVID-19 pandemic influenced her decision to step down. For Seasons 2, 3 (the final season), Javicia Leslie portrayed Batwoman.

Shailene Woodley on ‘The O.C.’

Actress Shailene Woodley, known for her role in “The Fault in Our Stars”, initially starred on Season 1 of “The O.C.” as Kaitlin Cooper, the younger sister to Marissa Cooper, portrayed by Mischa Barton. However, Woodley was absent from Season 2 and Kaitlin’s character didn’t reappear until Season 3, at which point she was played by Willa Holland. In a 2020 tweet, Woodley expressed pride in her time on “The O.C.”, but during an interview with Wired, she shared that she was a late bloomer and the show’s producers were looking for an actress with a more mature physique at the time.

Brook Kerr on ‘True Blood’

In the six-year duration of the TV series “True Blood”, Rutina Wesley portrayed Tara Thornton, a childhood friend of the main character Sookie Stackhouse. Yet, approximately ten years ago, an unbroadcast pilot episode of “True Blood” surfaced online, revealing Brook Kerr as the original actress for Tara, a role she played before Rutina did.

It hasn’t been explicitly stated why this particular character was changed, but some people think that during filming of the pilot, Kerr may have detected potential creative difficulties with Tara’s character and the show itself. However, it’s also possible that the producers decided to take the character in a new direction for reasons unrelated to these speculations.

Sharon Wilkins on ’30 Rock’

In the hit TV show “30 Rock”, Sherri Shepherd is remarkably funny and indelible as Tracy Jordan’s demanding wife, Angie. It’s hard to imagine anyone else fitting the part so well. However, sharp-eyed viewers might have noticed that in Angie’s debut on the series, during Season 1’s “Jack the Writer” episode, Angie was initially portrayed by another actor: Sharon Wilkins. Wilkins made just one appearance as Angie before Shepherd stepped into the role for the rest of the show. No official explanation has ever been given about why Wilkins was replaced. Nevertheless, it’s clear that Wilkins doesn’t leave a lasting impression in her single episode, while Shepherd goes on to embody the character completely.

Nathan Wetherington on ‘Gilmore Girls’

In the television series “Gilmore Girls,” Jared Padalecki portrayed Rory Gilmore’s initial boyfriend, Dean Forester. Notably recognized for his role in “Supernatural” now, Padalecki stepped into the recurring character when the original actor for Dean, Nathan Wetherington, was replaced after filming the initial pilot episode (the same one featuring Alex Borstein as Sookie St. James).

As per Wetherington, the particular scene when he encountered Rory required a total of 45 takes to perfect, and he himself admitted that the filming process was an unpleasant experience. Given these circumstances, it wouldn’t be shocking that he learned he was going to be replaced.

Jeffrey Hunter on ‘Star Trek’

The legendary character of Captain Kirk in the original “Star Trek,” famously portrayed by William Shatner, holds a prestigious place in popular culture history. However, it might surprise you to know that Shatner wasn’t initially chosen for the role. That distinction belongs to Jeffrey Hunter, who originally played Captain Christopher Pike during the show’s pilot episode. Shatner took over the role when Hunter was replaced, and the character was later reintroduced as “Captain James T. Kirk” in the first official episode.

In his 1993 memoir “Star Trek Memories,” Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner, shared an intriguing behind-the-scenes revelation. Contrary to the widespread belief that he left Star Trek to pursue a movie role, Shatner asserted that he was actually let go from the show. This was allegedly due to his former model wife’s frequent interruptions on set, demanding improved camera angles for her husband.

Talk about behind-the-scenes drama.

Story editing by Jeff Smith. Copy editing by Andrew Mangan.

2025-05-19 21:28

A Fan-Favorite Is Returning to ‘Law & Order: SVU’ for Season 27