This is a new wildcard here:

Benjamin Bratt is scheduled to make a one-shot return on the mothership sometime this season, reprising the charecter of Det. Rey Curtis he played on the mothership from 1995-'99 (including the infamous "200th" episode of the mothership, "Empire" that guest-starred his then-girlfriend Julia Roberts), in this case to comfort Lt. Anita Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkenson on the mothership), who is battling cancer on the show.

With this in mind, I wonder if that is setting up a possible return of Bratt into "the franchise," with Bratt a possible replacement for Eric Bogosian as the Captain of the Major Case Squad. Given it has been 11 seasons since we last saw Rey on the mothership, he could very easily have had several promotions, with Rey now just being promoted to Captain and assigned to the MCS. If that happened, he would likely bring those who became "L & O" fans during seasons 6-9 with him and offset the loss of VDO and KE somewhat in my opinion.

Doesn't he have a new series ("The Cleaner"-A&E) running already?

The Cleaner was cancelled in late September:

Reuters

That didn't take long. Thanks footsteps

I would think that if Benjamin Bratt was going to join LOCI, it would have been talked about by now. They've announced who is replacing Julianne Nicholson, but there hasn't been anything about who will replace Eric Bogosian. And they've already started filming?

Not necessairly. I only learned of Bratt's one-shot return to the mothership on Saturday, and since "CI" isn't returning until March, it's quite possible they may not film set scenes until later (I would think they would focus on outdoor scenes first). If Bratt were to return on "CI" as the new Captain, they might not have to make that decision until December/January or so.

What makes you think they will replace Bogasian? If Nichols and whatshername are to be a comedy/drama duo why cluuter the show with too much office time, just have them solve crimes like Monk did, out of his home. The Captain on that show was about as usefull as an udder on a bull. Remember people this is the new version, lets not confuse the show by having all this "Heavy" police procedure, keep it light and fluffy.

If they do this, if they really do this, it will be both a sin and a crime against both the show and the once-mighty-and-awesome Law and Order series.

Wow, that would be odd for me. Not that I would mind seeing Benjamin Bratt at LOCI, lol, but I mean, his character is supposed to be younger than basically every other man in LOCI. yes? no? am I wrong? From the L&O mothership, I guess he's maybe 3-4 years younger than Logan, maybe. Or say approximately Goren's age?! And he would be... Captain of the Major Squad. Well, like Neils Bohr once said (Nobel Price, Chemistry) "everything is possible, given it is sufficiently insane"
Just kidding... No offense We'll see if there'll be a Captain, who will be the chosen one

No way Curtis makes Captain of Major Case. He left the Two-Seven - and full time police work - because his wife Debra needed him at home to care for her as her MS got worse and worse. It takes years of experience to make Lt. in a precinct, much less a Captain in a specialized department like SVU or Major Case. So even if he's back on the job now, he hasn't had enough time, nor experience in the managment field to make Captain of MCS.

Sorry, that would never fly, both on the show, or reality wise.

Ah...but this is now the network (and show) of blue skies and fluff. So maybe Rey's wife was miraculously cured within 6 months of his leave-taking and so he went back to the NYPD. And zoomed right past Lt. Van Buren to Captain of MCS. Hey, there's not a cloud in that blue sky...I think most anything can fly.

You know, a therapist once told me that I use sarcasm because I don't know how to deal with my anger. I explained to her that sarcasm is how I deal with my anger. She was not amused.

:wiping eyes:

Thanks for that one, CIaddict! I needed a good laugh before bed!!

I didn't know the Cleaner was canceled? That's a great show! Do you think he'll replace someone on LOCI? I love him!