Two beloved stars of the NBC drama Law & Order: SVU won’t be returning when the show is likely picked up for Season 27, according to a new report.
Juliana Martinez and Octavio Pisano have both finished their runs on the show, Deadline reported on Tuesday, May 6.
Pisano has portrayed undercover detective Joe Velasco since Season 23, while Martinez is a relative newcomer, joining the cast as Detective Kate Silva this season.
According to the outlet, there is no indication whether the split was due to financial or creative reasons, but the move follows budget cuts affecting several NBC shows.
It’s unclear whether the characters portrayed by Martinez and Pisano will tie up their respective storylines by the time the show’s season finale, “Post-Rage,” airs on May 15.
The popular crime drama, starring Mariska Hargitay as Olivia Benson, will likely be renewed for its 27th season.
When Martinez first joined the show, she took to Instagram to share her excitement.
“I am so proud to be representing Latinas everywhere tonight. The Elite Squad is back baby, and it just got better than ever,” she wrote in a post on Oct. 3, 2024, alongside a photo of the cast.
Pisano rarely posts on his Instagram account, but at least one fan heard the news, writing, “Octavio I’m so saddened to hear that you are leaving SVU 😢 you’re my favorite character you can’t leave 💔.”
