CBS Remake Of 40-Year-Old Legal Classic Purposely Delayed Release For Season 3

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Matlock season 3 is being purposely delayed.

CBS has brought back the classic legal drama Matlock with a new twist. The original series, which premiered in 1986 and starred Andy Griffith, is now reimagined with Kathy Bates as Madeline “Matty” Matlock. She plays a retired lawyer with a hidden motive who starts working at the Jacobson Moore law firm. The season 2 finale aired on April 23, and the show will be back for a third season.

Jennie Snyder Urman, the creator and executive producer of Matlock, told TV Insider that she asked CBS to delay the start of season 3 until midseason instead of the fall. She explained that the season 2 finale wraps up the main storyline involving Wellbrexa, and the writers need extra time to build a new case for season 3. CBS agreed to her request, and Urman believes this will ultimately be better for the show, even if it means fans have to wait longer for new episodes. You can read her full explanation below.

I discussed this with the network after a productive conversation. We’ve essentially wrapped up this storyline, and it was important to us to give the characters genuine emotional resolution and avoid repeating the same themes. Now that we’ve concluded things with this extended finale, I need time to plan and develop the foundation for future seasons. I’m enthusiastic about what’s next, but also appreciate having a little breathing room to prepare.

While I’m disappointed for viewers, this unexpected turn gives the writers and me a chance to craft a truly compelling mystery. We had a lot of story elements already, but now we can really focus on building a solid, well-developed plot. I’m grateful the network is giving us the time we need to ensure the story is high quality and doesn’t feel rushed.

We’re essentially starting fresh, so we’re planning a longer-than-usual writing phase before filming begins. Getting everything just right and ensuring high quality is my top priority.

Now that the initial storyline is finished, season 3 of Matlock is moving in a fresh direction. While the connection between Matty and Olympia Lawrence (Skye P. Marshall) will still be important, the show is essentially starting over, especially considering how focused the first two seasons were on the Wellbrexa case. Instead of aiming for a fall 2026 premiere, Matlock will return during the mid-season lineup in early 2027.

Although the wait for the new season is longer than typical for a network TV show, it’s still expected to be quicker than the wait for most shows on streaming services. Most streaming series don’t return for at least a year, and often take even longer, no matter how many episodes they have. Matlock is planned to return in early 2027, probably in January, meaning the break won’t be a full year, even though it’s longer than the breaks for other CBS shows.

CBS extended the third season of Matlock as a vote of confidence, even after the show faced challenges in its second season. These included a drop in viewership and the firing of actor David Del Rio following allegations of sexual assault, which also required removing his character from the series.

Alongside the third season of Matlock, CBS will also be launching Einstein starring Matthew Gray Gubler in the 2026-2027 midseason. The show, which previously faced delays to allow for further development, stars Gubler as Lewis, the great-grandson of Albert Einstein. Lewis uses his unique skills to assist a detective (Melissa Fumero) in solving complex and mysterious crimes. It’s a procedural drama that promises intriguing cases and a fresh perspective.

As a big TV fan, I’m excited for the fall season on CBS! A bunch of my favorites are coming back, like Tracker, FBI, NCIS, Fire Country, and a few others – Marshals, CIA, NCIS: Origins, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, Elsbeth, and Sheriff Country. Plus, there are two brand new shows to check out: NCIS: New York and Eternally Yours. And of course, I’m really looking forward to the premieres of Matlock and Einstein later on!

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2026-04-26 21:00