SVU Exclusive: Rosie Perez, Garret Dillahunt to Anchor Explosive Episode

Rosie Perez and Garret Dillahunt will square off on an explosive episode of Law & Order: SVU this fall about pedophiles' rights, TVGuide.com has learned exclusively.

On the fifth episode of the new season, Dillahunt (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles' Cromartie, No Country for Old Men) will play the head of a pedophilia organization (think NAMBLA — or, you know, don't). "It's called 'Hardwired,'" executive producer Neal Baer says, "because they believe that pedophilia is [a genetic predestination]."

Baer says the writers had the Oscar-nominated Perez (Do the Right Thing, Fearless) in mind when they wrote the role of a young sexual abuse victim's mother. "I think you'll be surprised by her performance," he says.

Jim True-Frost, who you might remember from The Wire, also appears in the episode as Perez's husband and stepfather to her son. She takes legal action against Dillahunt's organization for its influence over her husband, who has been accused of abusing her child.

The same episode also marks the return of two fair-haired legal ladies to the series: Defense attorney Patrice Larue (Jeri Ryan) will battle Stephanie March's Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Cabot, who starts her 10-episode run behind the prosecutor's bench that week.

Not enough? Fine. Baer also tells us that the same hour will feature a "big reveal" about B.D. Wong's Dr. Huang, which will surface as a result of a confrontation he has with Det. Benson (Mariska Hargitay).

Law & Order: SVU returns for its 11th season on Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 9/8c on NBC. "Hardwired" is scheduled to air in October.

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