Law & Order: SVU season 25 premiere details reveal why Kelli Giddish is returning as Amanda Rollins. The Mariska Hargitay-led police procedural is entering its milestone year with a delayed premiere because of the dual Hollywood strikes. Law & Order: SVU season 25 will premiere on January 18 and consist of 13 episodes, making for a shorter run than normal.
As previously confirmed, Giddish will reprise her role as Rollins in the Law & Order: SVU season 25 premiere. Unlike her return in the latest crossover finale with Law & Order: Organized Crime, her latest appearance on the show comes in much better circumstances, per TVLine's official synopsis from NBC. Read the full brief below:
“Tunnel Blind” — As the squad celebrates the birth of Rollins and Carisi’s child, another child goes missing in broad daylight.
Can Kelli Giddish’s Amanda Rollins Return Full Time To Law & Order: SVU?
After more than a decade on the NBC police procedural, Giddish wrapped up her series regular stint on Law & Order: SVU in December 2022. Her exit came unexpectedly, causing scrutiny. Neither Wolf Entertainment nor NBC has provided an official reason for her departure, and it doesn't seem as though Giddish decided to leave. There were rumors that she was forced out of Law & Order: SVU, but no concrete indication that was the case. Nonetheless, the issue has been drowned out by the fact that she continues to return.
In light of Giddish's upcoming Law & Order: SVU season 25 appearance, it remains to be seen if her regular visits can turn into her reclaiming her series regular role. The long-running show is not new to rotating cast members, with only Hargitay and Ice-T appearing in all of its seasons. That being said, Manhattan's SVU has been undermanned for quite a while now. Molly Burnett's departure in Law & Order: SVU's finale crossover with Organized Crime makes this issue worse and increases the chances of Giddish just returning.
Law & Order: SVU, much like many ensemble shows, thrives on its cast chemistry. It took a while for the show to find Rollins' identity, but once it did, she immediately became a fan favorite. It seems there is really nothing stopping Giddish from coming back, and considering the show's current status, it may be best to just reinstate her as a regular cast member.
