Matlock Season 2 Welcomes New Cast Members and Shares Exciting Storyline Teasers for 2026
‘Matlock’ Showrunner Teases Mid-Season Finale and New Additions for Season 2
Jennie Snyder Urman, the showrunner and executive producer of Matlock, has revealed details about the upcoming mid-season finale, titled “Call It a Christmas Gift,” which is set to air on Thursday at 9 p.m. on CBS. This episode marks the conclusion of the first half of the second season, promising a dramatic turn of events as the show plans to return early next year.
Two new actors have been added to the recurring cast for Season 2: Sarah Wright Olsen, known for her roles in Parks and Recreation and American Made, and newcomer Henry Haber. Olsen will portray Gwen, an efficiency expert assessing the firm, while Haber will play Hunter, a younger associate from the floater pool known for his laid-back demeanor. Though their characters won’t feature in the upcoming episode, both actors have recently joined the production.
In an interview earlier this week, Snyder Urman clarified that Haber is not meant to replace David Del Rio, who was let go from Matlock in October following an internal investigation by CBS Studios into sexual assault allegations made by a co-star. Del Rio has denied these allegations.
While Urman declined to delve into specifics regarding Del Rio’s departure, she confirmed that his character, Billy Martinez, has already made his final appearance. The resolution of his storyline will unfold off-camera in future episodes. “The last episode you see him is in 7, and then you find out how Billy’s story ends, in a very organic way that has to do with our whole office and how things are being shaped in this merger,” Urman stated.
Discussing the introduction of new characters, she expressed a desire to bring varying dynamics into the show. “We’re always bringing in new associates, new people, because we want to give our characters different energies to react to, and different obstacles to overcome.” This season, the writers looked to introduce “a bro, like a real bro,” with the new character Hunter. Urman explained, “What will it be like for Olympia [Skye P. Marshall] and Matty [Kathy Bates] to be around a bro? They’ve been with characters that really see them as the pinnacle and do things their way. But what happens when you have somebody who spreads a little bit and shoots a basketball when he wants to have ideas flowing? What is that like in our ladies’ world? And I’ll tell you, it’s funny.”
As for the mid-season finale, Urman hinted at the chaos that the forthcoming merger will incite among the characters. The conflict between Olympia and Matty has been particularly pronounced in the first half of the season, setting the stage for upcoming developments.
The mid-season finale promises to reveal long-held secrets, leaving audiences eager for the show’s return on February 26. Snyder Urman emphasized that all characters will face the repercussions of their actions. “There are lessons to be learned, and they might hurt, but this is a high-stakes business that has implicated itself in a significant breach that benefited big pharma (and their lawyers), while people like Matty lost loved ones. People need to be held accountable, but who?”
In addition to teasing future plotlines, Urman confirmed that the Wellbrexa storyline will conclude by season’s end, and fans can also look forward to more from Justina Machado’s Eva Muñoz and James Lesure.
Matlock premiered its second season on October 12, garnering 13.4 million viewers across platforms, positioning it among the Top 3 series on broadcast, according to CBS. Bates and Marshall have also received critical acclaim, with nominations for the Critics Choice Awards for the second consecutive year. Bates is additionally nominated for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama TV Series at the Golden Globes.
Further insights from Snyder Urman, including more spoilers, will be available following the mid-season finale.
Pictured (L-R): Skye P. Marshall as Olympia Lawrence and Kathy Bates as Madeline Matlock in ‘Matlock’ Season 2 mid-season finale “Call It a Christmas Gift.”
Michael Yarish/CBS
