“When I showed up for the first episode, I’m like, ‘Oh, I’m getting my ass beat? Really?’” the actor tells PEOPLE about filming season 27

Ice T as Sgt. Odafin “Fin” Tutuola in Law & Order: SVU.Credit : Virginia Sherwood/NBC

As fans gear up for season 27 of Law & Order: SVU, Ice-T promises a thrilling start.

“I’ve been on Law & Order for over 25 years now,” the 67-year-old actor and rapper, who plays Fin Tutuola, says during an exclusive interview with PEOPLE about hosting the new A&E documentary Fame and Fentanyl. “And filming for the new season has been great.”

Offering a glimpse into what fans can expect when the season premieres on Sept. 25, Ice-T says the show delivers the intense drama viewers know and love. “In the first episode, something bad happens to me and I end up in the hospital,” he shares. “I wasn’t in the second episode, but I’m back in the third—they move us around.”

Ice T as Sgt. Odafin “Fin” Tutuola, Mariska Hargitay as Capt. Olivia Benson, Kelli Giddish as Amanda Rollins and John Clarence Stewart as Det. Corgan in Law & Order: SVU.Peter Kramer/NBC

The spotlight, however, isn’t just on him. “The big news is that Kelli [Giddish] came back,” he says of his costar, who joined the cast as Amanda Rollins in season 13, left midway through season 24 and is now returning. “I’m in love with everybody on the show, so it’s good to be back with her.”

There are other familiar faces becoming more central, too. “Kevin [Kane] and Aimée [Donna Kelly] came on as series regulars,” Ice-T says, referring to Kane, who joined full-time in season 26, and Kelly, a new addition for Season 27. “So you know, we pass the buck around.”

Even as a series veteran, Ice-T says he’s constantly surprised by what the writers come up with. “The thing about SVU is, we have no idea where it’s going,” he shares. “Mariska [Hargitay] is a producer, so she kind of knows where the boat’s being steered. But until we get a script, we don’t know. When I showed up for the first episode, I’m like, ‘Oh, I’m getting my ass beat? Really?’ In the past, it was like, ‘Oh, you’re gonna get married this year.’ I’m like, ‘Married to who?’ ‘Right—Phoebe.’ I was like, ‘I’m in, I guess.’”

Ice-T, 2022.James Devaney/GC Images

He credits Hargitay, 61, who both stars as Olivia Benson and produces the show, for setting the tone on set. “Mariska is number one, I’m two, but the people at the front of the show really set the tone,” he explains. “So Mariska comes in happy, everybody’s happy. She’s got a very good energy.”

Speaking about his longtime friendship with Hargitay, Ice-T shares, “She’s a really sweet person. I’ve known Mariska longer than anybody in my life. I’ve known her longer than Coco [Austin],” he adds, referencing his wife. “I’ve been working with her solidly for 26 years, every other day. It’s easy to talk good about her because she’s just a good person with a good heart.”

Even though the cast keeps things light behind the scenes, Ice-T admits the subject matter can be heavy. “A lot of times, people come to see us film and they’re surprised. They’re like, ‘Yo, you guys are playing around, having fun.’ But then the action comes and it’s time to get serious. We have to keep it light behind the scenes because the topics are so heavy.”

Hargitay and Ice-T, 2009.Will Hart/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

He continues, “There are some really heavy scenes where everyone has to lock in and keep quiet and people are crying and all that. It gets heavy. But we’ve been together so long, it’s very comfortable.”

As for what makes SVU special, Ice-T believes it’s the emotional core. “It’s entertainment, but it’s also therapy for a lot of people,” he says. “It’s deeper than just entertainment. We’re dealing with victims and survivors. A lot of women who watch the show have been through some of these terrible incidents. Maybe on our show, they see the justice that they might not have seen in real life. And it’s some kind of help to them.”

SVU season 27 premieres on Sept. 25 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on NBC, and can be streamed the next day on Peacock.