"Law and Order: SVU" mainstay Mariska Hargitay is on board for a 13th season of the show as Det. Olivia Benson. But around midseason, she's expected to pass the baton on to a new female detective, allowing her to spend more time with her family. And that's where Jennifer Love Hewitt comes in, as her name was mentioned as a possible addition to the cast.
As TV Line's Nellie Andreeva writes, "For the first 13 episodes, Hargitay’s character will continue to solve sex crimes alongside Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni), pending Meloni closing his deal. Then Benson will be promoted to a supervisor position, with a new female detective taking her place. That is the role that producers are eyeing for Hewitt, who, ironically, guest-starred on SVU last fall as a rape victim."
"Eyeing," yes. But is it happening? No.
A source with direct knowledge of the situation tells me that yes, Love Hewitt did receive an offer from the show. However, the source says that "it wasn't for the role that's been described in the media," and they're nowhere near a deal. "Basically, it's not happening at all," said the source.
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