Captain Olivia Benson and company descended on the Upper East Side Tuesday morning to film what appeared to be a pivotal scene in an upcoming episode of the long-running NBC hit series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit featuring a fictionalized version of the real NYPD squad.
Exclusive photos of the set on the East River Esplanade captured by Upper East Site show series star Mariska Hargatay in character as Capt. Olivia Benson, having an intense discussion with fellow SVU detective Joe Valesco, portrayed by Octavio Pisano, who joined the cast last season.
ALSO READ | Sarah Jessica Parker Returns to the UES to Film Second Season of ‘And Just Like That’
Benson and Valesco begin the scene leaning against the railing along the Esplanade having a conversation, when the tone suddenly shifts and Capt. Benson turns and rips off her sunglasses during an intense exchange.
It’s not clear what the discussion is about, however, a synopsis about this Thursday’s new episode of SVU, the 12th this season, reveals that “Velasco takes drastic action to get information from a witness.”
More importantly, a teaser video released by NBC shows Capt. Benson and her former SVU partner Det. Eliot Stabler in an intimate embrace appearing like they are about to kiss — which would be first time in the series history.
The Upper East Side has become a Little Hollywood of sorts over the past two years, with a bevy of hit series using streets and parks in the neighborhood to film, including HBO’s And Just Like That, NBC’s The Blacklist, Amazon’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Showtime’s Billions, CBS’ The Equalizer, as well as Hulu’s Fleishman is in Trouble and Only Murders in the Building.
ALSO READ | Hulu Hit ’Only Murders in the Building’ Takes Over Yorkville Block to Film Show’s Second Season
Upper East Site has learned Tuesday’s SVU shoot at Carl Schurz Park and the East River Esplanade would appear in the show’s 15th episode, which is expected to hit the airwaves late next month.
