Jennifer Love Hewitt will not assume role of female lead on ‘Law and Order: SVU’

Jennifer Love Hewitt is no longer in the running to assume a lead role on Law & Order: SVU, ending widespread speculation that she would become a semi-replacement for series mainstay Mariska Hargitay midway through season 13.

Internet rumors indicated that producers coveted Hewitt, 32, as a second female detective who would eventually become the female lead, according to Us Weekly.

Hargitay, 47, is scaling back her role on SVU to spend more time with her family. The Emmy Award-winning actress’ character, Detective Olivia Benson, will be promoted to a higher position after continuing to solve sex crimes for the first 13 episodes of the season.

While The Client List star will not be joining SVU’s cast in season 13, rapper-turned-actor Ice-T, who has played Detective Odafin Tutuola since 2000, has signed a contract extension that will keep him on the series for the next two years.

Deadline confirms that Ice-T broke the news on his Twitter feed Monday.

Producers are actively continuing their search to find a replacement for Christopher Meloni, who left SVU following a contract dispute with the network.