Great news for Mariska Hargitay fans! NBC’s chairman Bob Greenblatt announced this morning that the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star won’t be leaving the popular drama anytime soon, according to Deadline.

Hargitay’s workload this season had been reduced, as she needed the time to take care of her new baby, which had fueled speculation that she may be leaving sometime soon. However, “Mariska is not leaving SVU,” Greenblatt verified at NBC’s Television Critics Association executive session today. He also said that they are "heating up [Hargitay's] storyline."

“I’ll be back,” Detective Oliva Benson (Hargitay) confirmed in a pre-taped video. “I can’t leave this show, I’m having too much fun.”

She appeared in the video with Harry Connick Jr. who is joining the show as a new dedicated Executive ADA assigned to a case with Benson. He will also be a love interest for the often single detective. It looks like the hope of a Benson / Cabot later-in-life get together just isn't going to happen. 

Check out the video of Hargitay and Connick  below:

Follow SheWired on Twitter!

Follow SheWired on Facebook!