Law & Order: SVU‘s latest update on casting has sparked a burning question in fans’ minds: Why are Kate Silva (Juliana Martinez) and Joe Velasco (Octavio Pisano) leaving after Season 26? Created by Dick Wolf, the crime-drama series follows a Special Unit, who investigates trickier cases related to sexual assault and harassment. Silva and Velasco are prominent parts of the current installment. As such, fans are eager to know why they won’t be in the next season.
Here are all the details.
Why are Juliana Martinez and Octavio Pisano leaving SVU after Season 26?
The reason for Julianna Martinez and Octavio Pisano leaving Law & Order: SVU’s cast after Season 26 remains unclear.
There are speculations that their exit might have stemmed from budgetary issues across the NBC. These ongoing issues have caused casting shake-ups, impacted episode count, and affected the future of many shows on the network. However, the network hasn’t given any official word on whether their latest casting modifications were a creative or financial decision. Moreover, Season 27 is yet to be officially announced.
For those unfamiliar, Martinez’s Kate Silva was introduced in Season 26, Episode 1, titled “Fractured.” She is a detective who originally worked in Brooklyn’s Homicide Division. However, she is currently associated with the Manhattan Special Victims Unit.
On the other hand, Pisano’s Joe Velasco debuted in Season 23, Episode 1, titled “And the Empire Strikes Back.” After Katriona Tamin’s retirement, he was assigned to the Special Victims Unit.
Season 26 is supposed to conclude at Episode 22, “Post-Rage,” scheduled to premiere on May 15, 2025, on NBC. According to the summary, the episode will focus on Benson, who is dedicated to investigating a set of sexual assault cases related to female psychiatrists. Additionally, the squad will savor a promotion. It remains to be seen how the current installment puts the arc of Silva and Velasco to a close.
