Kelli Giddish is returning to Law & Order: SVU as a series regular in season 27, according to who saw Giddish exit SVU full-time and be reduced to a recurring role beginning in season 24. However, Giddish will now return as a full-fledged member of the cast next season.

Giddish, who ed the Law & Order: SVU cast in season 13 in the wake of Christopher Meloni's departure as series regular in season 12, portrayed Rollins as a series regular until the midpoint of season 24, when her character departed SVU to take a teaching job at Fordham University and was subsequently moved to recurring status. In season 26, it was revealed that Rollins had left academia and ed the NYPD's Intelligence Unit, explaining her absence from the show due to extensive traveling.

What Amanda Rollins' Return Means For Law & Order: SVU

Benson & Rollins Reunion Is Long Overdue

Amanda Rollins is a pivotal character in the SVU world, and her return is welcome news for fans of the show who have been clamoring for it. While it's not confirmed that he'll be reing the Special Victims Unit, it's hard to fathom she could be a series regular any other way. Considering that she's almost certainly back in Captain Olivia Benson's squad room, her return will fill the gap left by the exit of SVU series regulars Juliana Martinez and Octavio Pisano, who departed at the end of season 26.

A popular character since her debut, Rollins has been at the forefront of the post-Stabler era of SVU, along with Danny Pino's character, Detective Nick Amaro, who stayed with the squad for four seasons. Giddish's departure from the show was an unpopular one with fans and cast alike. Mariska Hargitay was open about Giddish's SVU exit and reduced role, making it clear it was not her decision and not one she would have made. Giddish's return will reunite Rollins and Benson in the squad room with a renewed friendship after they buried the hatchet in season 23, an evolution certain to be embraced by everyone.

Our Take On Kelli Giddish's Return To Law & Order: SVU

It Will Reenergize The Show & Open The Door For Crossovers

Character changes and departures can be turbulent, and with the volume of turnover that has been commonplace for the entire Law & Order universe, it can be difficult to get fans immediately on board with a new character with new backstories to learn, especially when combined with a main player. With the return of Rollins to the SVU squad room, the show brings back a popular character already well-established with the fan base. Rollins will be easy to reinsert into the show's structure without causing the kind of character re-establishment and pivots caused by Christopher Meloni's departure in season 13.

Rollins will be easy to reinsert into the show's structure without causing the kind of character re-establishment and pivots caused by Christopher Meloni's departure in season 13.

Opportunities for additional crossover with Meloni's Law & Order: Organized Crime also open up, as Rollins has appeared in four episodes of the spinoff show in season 3. With the darker and more cinematic elements of Organized Crime being explored thanks to its move to Peacock, fans could see a deeper, or even darker, side of Rollins should that crossover happen. Amanda Rollins coming back to the Law & Order: SVU squad room will reenergize fans' expectations for the show, and seeing her interact with Ice-T's Sgt. Fin Tutuola again is going to be fun.