'Matlock' gets a major Season 3 update as Season 2 gears up for its highly anticipated return
Kathy Bates fans, assemble! The actress's stint as the mysterious lawyer in 'Matlock' just got a massive Season 3 update. Based on the 1986 television series of the same name, the CBS show follows the sharp and seasoned lawyer Madeline Matlock (played by Bates), who joins the law firm Jacobson Moore for a secret motive. While fans eagerly await answers after the Season 2 finale, there's some good news you won't want to miss.
CBS announced on January 22 that 'Matlock' has been renewed for Season 3. The legal drama, starring Bates, continues to earn critical acclaim, including Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. Not only that, but the show ranks as the No. 1 overall show on Thursday nights, as per Geek Sided. 'Matlock' Season 2 premiered on CBS in the U.S. on October 12, and is now on its midseason break after eight episodes.
Meanwhile, 'Matlock' Season 2 is preparing for its return on Thursday, February 26. While CBS hasn't confirmed the exact episode count for Season 2, it may have 16–19 episodes. Details for Season 3 are still under wraps, but it's expected to premiere in fall 2026, giving fans ample time to catch up on Season 2 before Matty's comeback.
The cast from Season 1, including Bates, Skye P. Marshall, and Jason Ritter, returns, while Aaron Harris and Sam Anderson have been promoted to series regulars. On the other hand, David Del Rio has been fired from the show amid a sexual assault allegation, which he denies. Reportedly, 'Matlock' Season 2 was already in production when the incident occurred, and Rio had filmed seven episodes. Showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman told Variety that 'Prior Bad Acts', the 'Matlock' Season 2 episode, which aired on Thursday, December 4, was his final appearance.
The episode ended with Rio's Billy Martinez telling his pregnant girlfriend, "I do want to get married," a line that sounded unusual. Urman explained, "I'll just say there were creative changes that we had to make, and we made them. We're ending up in a different place than what our plans were, but we really stopped and tried to think about how we can have an exit that makes sense in the world of our show and for the character," as per Variety.
Although Rio didn't appear in the Thursday, December 11 midseason finale, it revealed that his character, Billy's pregnant girlfriend, Claudia, suffered a miscarriage, which may explain his sudden departure from the law firm, as per NJ.com. Urman confirmed that Billy's departure will be further explained when 'Matlock' Season 2 returns. "It is really in line with the character and in line with what's happening with the firm at large," she said, adding, "We want to remain true to the character."
