Jennifer Love Hewitt Eyed as New SVU Lead as Maris
 

Report: Jennifer Love Hewitt Eyed as New SVU Lead as Mariska Hargitay Signs Deal to Return

Jennifer Love Hewitt is being eyed as the new female lead on Law & Order: SVU as Mariska Hargitay has signed a deal to return for the 13th season in a reduced capacity, Deadline reports.
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Hargitay, who had asked for her workload to be scaled back, will work fewer hours for the same salary of $385,000 an episode, according to the site. At midseason, her character, Det. Olivia Benson,bjd dolls, will be promoted to a supervisor position, during which a new female detective, presumably played by Hewitt, will take her place.
Hewitt, who earned raves for her guest spot as a rape victim on SVU earlier this season, has not received an official offer yet, Deadline says.
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As for Hargitay's partner-in-crime-fighting, Christopher Meloni is seeking a raise and has not yet locked in a deal, according to Deadline.
Reps for NBC and Dick Wolf had no comment. An email to Hargitay's rep was not immediately returned.
What do you think? Is Hewitt a suitable replacement for Hargitay? Can any pairing top Benson and Stabler's?