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Photo: Michael Yarish/CBS
Season two «Matlock »" is scheduled for 2026, but don't expect a third season to premiere anytime soon. The drama starring Kathy Bates has been confirmed to return no earlier than 2027, but series creator Jennie Snyder Urman has big plans for the upcoming third season. Jason Ritter shared his thoughts on the delay and what's to come, and I have a theory about it.
What Jason Ritter Said About Season 3 of Matlock«
Urman previously reported that the third season would essentially be a reboot of the series, as the Wellbrex storyline that kicked off the first season finally concluded in the season two finale. With a completely new mystery or conflict being introduced, it's unclear what to expect. Ritter, who plays Julian, admitted to Us Weekly that he "hasn't heard much" about the upcoming season, but he did hint at what might be in store:
I think I heard there's going to be a time jump, but who knows how much exactly. I think we'll see a lot of character changes.
There have already been some character changes, and the knowledge that even more is on the horizon is unsettling. Perhaps the biggest change will affect Julian, who was arrested at the end of season two after helping expose his father and the rest of the corrupt partners at Jacobson Moore. While Ritter doesn't know what will happen to his character, he, like everyone else, is eagerly awaiting the outcome:
As for my character, I found myself in a difficult situation at the end of last season. We'll see if I can keep my law license or if I'll have to rethink everything.
It's no surprise that Ritter still doesn't know what's going to happen in season three. The reason CBS is delaying screening of Matlock« The midseason 2027 deadline is Urman's request that she and the writers have more time to flesh out the new story. And it seems they're in no rush. However, Ritter has no doubt that the stories they're working on will be excellent:
I know our writing team is always amazing, and they always come up with the best scripts. Every time I think I know where this is going, they surprise me in the best way, so I can't wait to open the gift of season three—along with everyone else.
Also, unsurprisingly, Ritter will have to wait a bit to find out what happens in season three. To that end, he revealed the production start date, and the process makes perfect sense:
No, we don't have any scripts yet. I think filming will start around September, so the writers need quite a bit of time to make sure the third season is a success.
The premiere date for season three hasn't been announced yet, but it's slated for early 2027, so a final date will likely be announced later this fall. Season three will also be shorter, with only 13 episodes, but since it's premiering later than usual, that's understandable. At least the writers will have more time to make it as great as ever. Plus, I'll have more time to come up with theories.
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What do I think might happen in the next season of Matlock?
A time jump seems highly likely, but the chronology is still somewhat fuzzy. It's safe to assume some time has passed since the events of the season two finale. Urman previously reported that while the Wellbrexa story has concluded, the trial will continue in season three. It's difficult to say how much detail we'll see.
As for Julian, I suspect his sentence will be significantly shorter than that of his father or his corrupt partners, because he aided and abdicated his immunity. Fortunately, Ritter doesn't seem too concerned about anything bad happening to Julian, but his relationship with Mattie and everyone else will likely be somewhat strained precisely because of his involvement.
So I guess season three «Matlock» It might pick up where all these legal issues are, once they're all sorted out. Frankly, while I'm looking forward to the new conflict unfolding, I'm also eager to see the aftermath of the main problem from seasons one and two unfold as everyone tries to move on.
At this point, however, no one can say for sure what will actually happen in season three, as it seems only Urman and the writers know for now. Waiting until 2027 will be challenging, but it will be worth it. In the meantime, fans can watch the first two seasons. «Matlock» with a Paramount+ subscription.