Fri Jul 25 02:20:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

Octavio Pisano, who played Detective Joe Velasco on *Law & Order: SVU*, will return for the show’s season premiere this fall, despite earlier reports that he and co-star Juliana Aidén Martinez (Detective Kate Silva) would not be returning as series regulars due to budget cuts. Martinez, however, has already secured a role on CBS’s *FBI*. The reason behind the cast changes and their extent remains speculative with no details on the characters that will return.

**News Article:**

**Detective Velasco Back on the Case: Octavio Pisano to Appear in *Law & Order: SVU* Season Opener**

NEW YORK, NY – Fans of *Law & Order: SVU* can breathe a sigh of relief: Octavio Pisano, who portrayed Detective Joe Velasco, will be making an appearance in the show’s upcoming season premiere, Deadline has confirmed.

This news comes after reports in May indicated that Pisano, along with Juliana Aidén Martinez, who played Detective Kate Silva, would not be returning as series regulars for the show’s 27th season. At the time, sources speculated the departures were due to budget cuts affecting various NBC shows.

While Pisano is set for a cameo, Martinez has already found a new home. Earlier this month, Deadline reported that she would be joining the cast of CBS’s *FBI* for its eighth season.

The exact reasons behind Pisano and Martinez’s initial exits from *SVU* remain unclear. NBC has yet to announce its fall premiere dates.

The news has sparked mixed reactions among fans, with some expressing disappointment over the initial departures and others praising Pisano’s upcoming appearance. It remains to be seen how the cast changes will impact the long-running procedural drama, particularly with Martinez landing on a new show. As *FBI*’s Stuart Scola is still searching for a partner, there may be an opportunity for Martinez to step into the role.

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