AceShowbiz - Prime Video's acclaimed spin-off series, Ballard, based on the world of the bestselling Michael Connelly novels, is gearing up for a highly anticipated second season. The show stars Maggie Q as Renée Ballard, an LAPD detective leading a cold case unit within the Robbery-Homicide Division. Now, the series is set to expand its star power with the addition of a familiar face from the iconic Law & Order franchise.

Reports confirm that Benjamin Bratt will join Ballard in a recurring role for season two. Bratt is widely recognized for his portrayal of Detective Rey Curtis in Law & Order, where he appeared for four seasons. His character in Ballard, Ryan Ainsley, is described as a former high-profile DEA agent who has retired to a quiet ranch in Idaho, marking a significant shift from his law enforcement past.

Bratt has remained active on television in recent years, with notable roles including his substitution for Jimmy Smits as Senator Bail Organa in the second season of Andor. He has also appeared in popular shows such as Modern Family, Private Practice, and Poker Face. Looking ahead, Bratt is slated to star alongside Mark Wahlberg, Paul Walter Hauser, and Molly Shannon in the upcoming Peter Farrelly action comedy Balls Up.

Ballard initially intersected with the beloved Bosch universe during the final season of Bosch: Legacy, where Renée Ballard first crossed paths with Harry Bosch, the titular detective played by Titus Welliver. In its first season, the show centers on Ballard’s leadership of the new cold case unit, which includes a diverse team: former officer Zamira Parker (Courtney Taylor), reserve officer Ted Rawls (Michael Mosley), volunteer Colleen Hatteras (Rebecca Field), legal intern Martina Castro (Victoria Moroles), and Ballard’s former partner Thomas Laffont (John Carroll Lynch).

During season one, the team tackles the decades-old murder of Sarah Pearlman, whose politically ambitious brother seeks justice. The investigation uncovers a chilling truth: Sarah’s father, Gary Pearlman (Kevin Dunn), is revealed as a secret serial killer. The unit successfully brings him to justice, though not without loss, as Ted Rawls is killed in the process. Parallel to the case, Ballard grapples with her fraught history with corrupt cop Robert Olivas (Ricardo Chavira), who assaulted her years earlier. The season ends on a dramatic cliffhanger with Ballard’s arrest for Olivas’ murder.

Beyond Ballard, Benjamin Bratt is also involved in another television project. He has been cast in a recurring role on the forthcoming Dan Fogelman NFL drama, The Land, which explores the front office dynamics of a fictionalized Cleveland Browns franchise. The show stars fellow Law & Order alum Chris Meloni as the team’s head coach.

Prime Video has confirmed that Ballard will return for a second season, though an exact release date is yet to be announced. Fans of the Bosch universe and crime drama enthusiasts alike can look forward to the continuation of Renée Ballard’s gripping investigations, now with the added intrigue of Benjamin Bratt’s character.

Stay tuned for updates on Ballard season two here at Collider and across entertainment news outlets as further details emerge.