When Season 16 ended this year with Benson (Mariska Hargitay) becoming a long-awaited mother and Amaro (Danny Pino) departing the NYPD (and the show), fans have come to wonder what is in store for "Law & Order: SVU" next fall on NBC.

Are there going to be any additions to the cast? Will anyone else be leaving? Will Benson settle down now with a new love interest?

The show's executive producer Warren Leight sat down and spoke with Entertainment Weekly about these questions and more about what fans may (or may not) be able to expect next season.

In regards to Danny Pino's exit as Det. Amaro, Leight said that the departure fit both the show's continuity as well as Pino's ambitions.

"It was, at the end, a good mix of the two. Danny did seven years of 'Cold Case' and 'The Shield' and then four years here," Leight told EW. "Even last year, he was beginning to want to spread his wings a little. I understood that. At the same time, from a character point of view, we had put his character through a lot."

He also said that he never considered killing off Pino's character because he was just too good of an actor. He also comically said that he has worked with other actors he wouldn't have minded killing off.

This also made fans wonder if anyone else could be facing the door next season.

"Like any situation, if someone goes, it puts more pressure on the people who stay," Leight said. "Even if someone new were to come in, it takes a while to get them up to speed. [Detective] Rollins (Kelli Giddish) is going to be going through a lot of transition next season."

But in regards to Benson, having a love interest may not be the priority for her character.

"There will be a lot of change next year for all of our characters," Leight told EW. "I don't know that she needs a man. Usually those things happen when you're not looking for them. The promotion to lieutenant will happen sooner rather than later for her. With that comes a moment for her to acknowledge how much she has accomplished. Possibly, at that time, when you're feeling better about yourself, other things come your way."