Should fans be worried that Law and Order SVU's 16th season could be its last? A new report is saying that SVU is having less episodes the next season because of star Mariska Hargitay.

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Deadline reports that normally Law and Order continues filming after the season finale to "bank" a few new episodes. However, this year the show only filmed two additional ones and the third was scrapped to give Hargitay a break.

"It's been a grueling season, with a lot of emotional performances that has taken a toll on everyone, especially Hargitay, who is the center and the heart of the show and who also made her directorial debut on SVU this past season."

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"In the last 12 months Mariska appeared in 26 episodes, directed one, produced two benefits that raised millions of dollars for her Joyful Heart Foundation, and is also the full-time mother of three young children," L&O: SVU creator/executive producer Dick Wolf told Deadline. "Even a Super Woman needs a break sometime. Instead of shooting 27 straight episodes, we will begin our hiatus and go back to our normal production schedule."

At the end of Season 15, Hargitay's character Olivia Benson finally became a mother. But, spoilers were already circling that Benson doesn't have much time to bond with the baby Noah, since she has to start looking for his biological mom's killer.

Law and Order SVU will return to NBC September 24 at 9 p.m. EST.

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