14 DAY TRIAL // Major changes are afoot with the new season of “Law & Order: SVU,” though, for the time being, nothing is yet official. Mariska Hargitay has asked for her part to be downsized and producers want a new female detective in her stead: she could be played by Jennifer Love Hewitt.
Ironically enough, Hewitt already has some background with work on the show, since she starred in an episode last year as a victim: her role won her positively raving reviews with fans and critics alike.
Now, she will probably step in the shoes of a detective in charge of the investigations, TV Line reports, as Hargitay will only be making occasional appearances on the show.
TV Line has the scoop: “Around midseason, Hargitay’s Olivia Benson will pass the baton on to a new female detective – possibly played by Jennifer Love Hewitt. Meanwhile, SVU‘s leading man Christopher Meloni still has no deal for next season.”
The change in the lineup will occur because Hargitay herself has approached producers asking for more time off the show, a request she was granted.
What’s even better, she gets paid just like she was before, which was one of the conditions she made.
“The producers granted her request, reducing her hours but keeping her salary roughly the same at $385,000 an episode,” TV Line says.
The change will not be immediately noticeable, since Hargitay will continue to play the lead investigator (Benson) opposite Meloni (Elliot Stabler) for the first 13 episodes.
“Then Benson will be promoted to a supervisor position, with a new female detective taking her place. That is the role that producers are eying for Hewitt, who, ironically, guest-starred on SVU last fall as a rape victim,” TV Line says.
With Meloni yet to sign his new contract (apparently, he too is asking for a raise) and Hewitt still in talks with producers, the e-zine estimates an official announcement will be made sometime in June.
Keep an eye on this space for more on this.