Kevin Alejandro & Michael Raymond-James in the Running for Law & Order: SVU Lead

Christopher Meloni opted not to renew his contract for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit next season, leaving a gaping hole in the show’s cast. Now TVLine has the scoop on the five finalists for the lead role in the venerable NBC series, and two of them have True Blood ties: Michael Raymond-James and Kevin Alejandro.

Michael Raymond-James played psycho serial killer, and Arlene’s baby daddy, Rene in True Blood‘s first season with a cameo in season 2. Since then he co-starred in FX’s short-lived, but critically acclaimed, Terriers.

Kevin Alejandro joined True Blood as Jesus Velasquez in season 3 and quickly found a kindred spirit in Lafayette. Jesus has major role in season 4, the season of the witch. Kevin has pulled double-duty before, co-starring in two seasons of Southland while working on True Blood.

Both men, along with David Conrad (Ghost Whisperer), Danny Pino (Cold Case) and Rhys Coiro (Entourage), are flying to New York tomorrow to screen test with SVU’s lead female, Mariska Hargitay. Break a leg!