SVU: Kelli Giddish to Return in Multiple Season 26 Episodes — What’s Next for Rollins and Carisi

SVU: Kelli Giddish to Return in Multiple Season 26 Episodes — What’s Next for Rollins and Carisi

Fans of Law & Order: SVU have reason to celebrate: Kelli Giddish will be reprising her role as Amanda Rollins in the upcoming Season 26, according to showrunner/executive producer David Graziano and executive producer Julie Martin.

“Rollins is definitely coming back to the show,” Martin confirmed to TVLine. “She’s coming as a guest star, and she’s going to make a bunch of appearances throughout the season.” Graziano added, “We’re really happy about it.”

Rollins’ Return and New Role

Giddish exited Law & Order: SVU as a series regular in December 2022 but has made several appearances since, most recently in a May 2024 episode where her character, Rollins, returned to assist Mariska Hargitay’s Capt. Benson in solving a case involving an attack on a bride-to-be. In that episode, Benson advised Rollins to take some time to figure out what she truly wanted to do next. “I don’t want SVU to be your safety net,” Benson told her.

It seems Rollins took that advice to heart. When she returns in Season 26, Rollins will be part of the New York Police Department’s Intelligence Unit. “The Intelligence Unit in New York is unique,” Graziano explains. “It has cops stationed in almost every country in the world, so Rollins is going to be traveling a lot as part of that job.”

How Rollins’ New Job Affects Carisi

For fans of “Rollisi”—the relationship between Rollins and Assistant District Attorney Dominick “Sonny” Carisi (played by Peter Scanavino)—there’s no need to worry. The executive producers assured TVLine that Rollins and Carisi remain happily married and are still raising their three children together.

In fact, Rollins’ frequent travel will give Carisi the opportunity to shine as a solo parent, with some help from familiar faces like Benson and Det. Fin Tutuola (played by Ice-T). “We’ll see Carisi and his daughter get involved in something together that they’ll kind of have to work their way out of,” Graziano teased, adding that Carisi will be stepping up to the challenge of balancing work and parenting.

A ‘Bouquet’ of Appearances

While Graziano and Martin have not specified how many episodes Giddish will appear in, Graziano did offer a playful hint, saying, “There will be a bouquet of them — and I won’t describe the size of the bouquet yet.”

Fans won’t have to wait long to see Giddish’s return. Law & Order: SVU will kick off its 26th season on Thursday, Oct. 3, at 9/8c on NBC, with Giddish’s appearances spread throughout the season.

Hargitay on Giddish’s Departure

In a May interview, series star and executive producer Mariska Hargitay opened up about her disappointment regarding Giddish’s exit from the series in 2022. “Kelli is my favorite actor to work with. Kelli is my heart,” Hargitay shared. “It’s a sore subject. I have a lot of say on the show [as both a star and executive producer], but I didn’t have enough there.”

Hargitay went on to express her admiration for the dynamic between Rollins and Benson, calling it “one of the most powerful relationships in television.” She praised the bond between the two characters, highlighting how they were both “badass women, so flawed and so there for each other.”

What’s Next for Rollins?

Giddish’s return to Law & Order: SVU comes as a welcome surprise to fans who have missed the character’s presence on the show. Rollins’ new role in the Intelligence Unit will offer a fresh perspective for the character, and it will be interesting to see how she balances her professional and personal life as she takes on this new challenge.

Stay tuned for more Law & Order: SVU Season 26 updates as TVLine’s Fall TV Preview will feature additional details about Giddish’s return and what’s in store for Benson, Carisi, and the rest of the team.

In the meantime, what are your thoughts on Rollins’ return? Drop your comments below!

 

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