CBS' unorthodox reboot of Matlock has charmed and shocked in its first season, and the Kathy Bates-led legal procedural has earned a season 2 renewal. Based on the 1980s series of the same name, the modern reboot follows a septuagenarian lawyer named Matty Matlock (Bates) who returns to the world of law and uses her unassuming status to get to the bottom of her cases. Though the series features the same procedural structure as its predecessor, it has the added wrinkle of exploring Matty's mysterious backstory that involves a tragedy from her past.

Though reboots of classic shows are nothing new (Quantum Leap, Hawaii Five-0, etc.) Matlock is a truly original take because it adds an unprecedented wrinkle. In the Kathy Bates version, Andy Griffith's '80s Matlock exists in-universe as a TV show, and it's not exactly a coincidence that the lead characters share a name. On top of that, Matty Matlock isn't a wise-cracking lawyer with a heart of gold, she's actually a grieving mother on a mission to bring down the people responsible for her daughter's death. This made a second season an interesting proposition, and the show was quickly renewed.

Matlock Season 2 Latest News

A Major Cast Member Is Confirmed To Return

With the show being renewed in October 2024, not long after the freshman season premiered, the latest news comes alongside the finale of season 1 and confirms a major cast member will return for Matlock's second season. Shortly after the season 1 finale, showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman spoke candidly about the return of Julian (Jason Ritter), who seemingly left the series by quitting the firm. "Nope, you’re going to get more," said Urman, "there are going to be so many things that happen!"

The announcement isn't particularly surprising, considering how integral Julian is to the lives of Senior as well as Olympia. The Wellbrexa twist in the finale alone is justification for Julian to return, and that cliffhanger will need to be resolved in the sophomore outing. However, it's unclear how big Julian's role will be in season 2, and it could be somewhat diminished since he won't be around the office anymore.

Read Urman's full comment here:

I mean, [going after Senior] is definitely a smart take on what Olympia would want.

Nope, you’re going to get more.... He did just quit the firm. He did just quit the firm. Yes, there are going to be so many things that happen! So many things. [Laughs]

Matlock Season 2 Is Confirmed

Season 2 Is Coming Soon

CBS took a big risk when rebooting Matlock, and though reboots have found success, they have also crashed and burned as well. However, the immediate success of Matlock put those worries to bed, and CBS quickly renewed the show for a sophomore season. With the star power of Kathy Bates anchoring the show, the second episode kept the momentum going from its explosive premiere by delivering a 6.38 million viewer base. Though those numbers dropped a bit throughout the show's 18-episode debut season (with an average of 6.1 million viewers per TV Series Finale), the immediate success necessitated a renewal.

Matlock premiered on Sunday, September 22, 2024, and the first season concluded on April 17, 2025.

With season 1 out of the way, the focus can finally shift to the sophomore outing, though details are still somewhat scant regarding season 2. While season 1 had a long and unusual path to the small screen, it's expected that Matlock season 2 will be back soon, and network shows typically keep a pretty tight schedule. Though nothing has been confirmed yet, Matlock season 2 will premiere at some point in fall 2025, a year or so after the season 1 debut in 2024. Shooting is expected to take place during summer 2025.

According to the CBS 2025 TV schedule, Matlock will retain its spot on Thursday nights for the network.

Matlock Season 2 Cast Details

Will Kathy Bates Return?

Unlike the usual network TV fare, the Matlock reboot automatically gained attention because of its A-list star. Oscar, Emmy, and Golden Globe winner Kathy Bates anchors the series as Matty Matlock (aka Madeline Kingston), and she will return in season 2. Rumors circulated that Bates planned on retiring after calling the series her "last dance," but she clarified her comment in an interview with People, explaining she loved the show and had been grabbed from the twist in the pilot script. She told the outlet, "I can't believe I'm 76, and I want the show to run for another five years."

Likewise, she'll be ed by Skye P. Marshall as Matty's uncertain ally Olympia, especially after she has just been made a partner at the firm. Though Jason Ritter's Julian Markston stepped away from the firm, he's confirmed to return in season 2. The season 1 finale introduced Niko Nicotera as a man claiming to be Alfie's (Aaron Harris) father, and he'll be back in season 2.

One thing that is less easy to predict is the show's weekly guest stars, and it's expected that season 2 will continue the weekly casting. Like the original courtroom drama TV series, the Matlock reboot relies on the case-of-the-week format, and that requires a healthy roster of ing and one-off guest roles to play opposite Matty and her co-workers.

The prospective cast of Matlock season 2 includes:

Matlock Season 2 Story Details

Will Matty's Secret Be Revealed To Others?

Now that the first season is out of the way, it has set the stage for a pretty clear direction for season 2 and left a myriad of cliffhangers unresolved.

Matlock threw a twist at the audience in its debut episode, and that sort of unpredictable approach extended all the way to the season 1 finale. Now that the first season is out of the way, it has set the stage for a pretty clear direction for season 2 and left a myriad of cliffhangers unresolved. First, Olympia got the promotion instead of her ex, Julian, and the son-of-the-boss decided to call it quits. Olympia then found the Wellbrexa study in Julian's safety deposit box, and he confessed why he had it, meaning he isn't as innocent as he claimed.

This will undoubtedly change their dynamic, though Olympia is likely to shield the father of her children from prosecution in order to protect her kids. Meanwhile, Olympia and Matty's relationship has hit a stable place, but now Olympia is the one with a big secret, having just told Matty that Julian could not have stolen the study. This will be a heavy thing for Olympia to deal with in season 2, but as someone who loves justice in the form of class action lawsuits, Skye P. Marshall believes her character will find a creative way to deal with that.

In an interview alongside Jason Ritter for TV Insider, Marshall asserted that Olympia is the kind of person to go for the bigger threat. With Julian acting on his father's orders, Olympia's target will likely be Senior in season 2:

I think since day one of the pilot of Matlock, Olympia has been laser beam focused on justice. Matty has a case. There’s a victim involved. Let’s get to business, but also Julian has a dictator, right? So, who told you to do this, and who told him to do this? I think that Olympia, she represents people who don’t have the skill or the will to get justice for themselves, and she will find out who’s responsible and then get the class action from the big boys. I think she is going to go for the big fish and not let all of this fall on my ex-husband.

Finally, Alfie's so-called father has come out of the woodwork, but it's uncertain if he's telling the truth since Matlock is built on its twists and turns. His presence will play into the at-home family dynamic for Matty while the series still continues its case-of-the-week format.

Season 1's reveals haven't completely robbed Matty of her motivation, and she hasn't quite gotten to the bottom of the Wellbrexa case yet. Though that likely won't anchor the show forever, it can at least continue throughout season 2 as she continues to doggedly track down the truth about her daughter's death. Matlock season 2 has a lot to work with, and more twists are expected sooner or later.