Ice-T has signed a deal to return to ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’ for two more seasons, Yahoo! News is reporting. The rapper and actor will reprise his role of Detective Fin Tutuola, who he’s portrayed on the cop/legal drama since Season 2, for the 13th and 14th seasons.
Ice-T confirmed this contract renewal on Twitter, saying “EXCLUSIVE: I’ve just locked in my new ‘SVU’ deal..So I’ll officially be back for the next 2 years at least.” But he added that “No one else is locked as new members of the show.”
The actor’s renewal comes after ‘Law & Order: SVU’s female lead, Mariska Hargitay, who has appeared on the show as Detective Olivia Benson since it debuted in 1999, announced that she will be appearing less on the show next season. She wants to spend more time with her family, as she adopted a baby in April 2011 with her husband.
The news of Ice-T returning to ‘Law & Order: SVU’ next season also comes after Christopher Meloni, who starred as Detective Elliot Stabler since the show started, announced in May 2011 that he would not be returning for the 13th season. With all of the casting changes, NBC Entertainment president Robert Greenblatt has said that the network will change the tone of the series next year.
Written by: Karen Benardello