The second season of CBS’s “Matlock“ has faced a significant change behind the scenes, leading to a shift in the show’s creative direction. Following the firing of actor David Del Rio in October, his character, first-year associate Billy Martinez, has been written out of the series. Showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman says the storyline is now “ending up in a different place than what our plans were,” but the team is focused on moving forward with a sense of joy for the audience.
How Billy Martinez Was Written Out of Matlock
David Del Rio was fired from “Matlock” in early October after an investigation into a sexual assault allegation made by his co-star, Leah Lewis. The alleged incident occurred in late September, and Del Rio was escorted off the Paramount lot the same day it was formally reported. At the time of his firing, production on Season 2 was already underway, and Del Rio had filmed seven episodes.
His final on-screen appearance was in Episode 7, titled “Prior Bad Acts,” which aired on December 4. The show then used its midseason finale on December 11 to begin explaining Billy’s absence from the law firm. In that episode, other characters mention that Billy has taken a personal day. His friend and co-worker Sarah, played by Leah Lewis, later learns that Billy’s pregnant girlfriend has suffered a miscarriage.
Showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman explained the challenge of adjusting the story after the actor’s sudden departure:
“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.”
Some viewers noted that Billy’s final scene in Episode 6, where he discusses marriage with his girlfriend, contained dialogue that sounded edited or pieced together, suggesting last-minute changes. Snyder Urman confirmed that Billy’s exit will be fully explained over the next two episodes after the midseason finale, though it will happen off-screen.
Cast Reactions and the Ongoing Investigation
After the news broke, Leah Lewis shared a message on her Instagram account. She posted a photo with her mother and wrote, “Mom is here, we’re moving forward in love and strength. I’m in good hands… Truly, we’re moving forward in strength. Key word, strength. Please, let that be the takeaway.”
In response, David Del Rio’s wife, Katherine Del Rio, posted and later deleted a message on her Instagram Story that appeared to reference Lewis. It stated, “Mom is here. We’re moving forward in love and strength after what Leah did to our family.” In an earlier deleted post, she had called Lewis “the most disturbing human being I have ever met.”
David Del Rio has not spoken publicly about the allegations. According to reports, CBS Studios reopened its investigation around Thanksgiving and reinterviewed Del Rio, who had obtained a new attorney. It is unclear if this new probe will change the outcome of the original investigation that led to his firing.
What’s Next for Matlock in Season 2
With Billy’s character departing, the focus of “Matlock” will shift to other relationships and new faces at the law firm. Snyder Urman says the core of the series remains the “intergenerational friendship” between Madeline “Matty” Matlock, played by Kathy Bates, and Olympia Lawrence, played by Skye P. Marshall.
“That relationship is just everything to me,” Snyder Urman said. “If I could headline the back half of the season, it’s joy… we get to have Matty and Olympia working together.”
The show will introduce two new characters when it returns:
- Gwen, played by Sarah Wright Olsen, described as an efficiency expert analyzing the firm.
- Hunter, played by Henry Haber, a younger associate and “total bro”.
The storyline involving the merger of the law firm will continue to move forward, creating uncertainty for everyone’s jobs. The central mystery of Season 1—the opioid case linked to the death of Matty’s daughter—will be completely resolved by the end of this season.
“Matlock” returns with new episodes on Thursday, February 26, on CBS.
Also Read: Fallout Season 1 AI Recap Pulled by Amazon After Getting Major Plot Points Wrong
