Kathy Bates’Matlockreboot has an exciting premise, but before its premiere, the show has already replaced an original cast member. CBS announced early in 2023 thatAndy Griffith’sMatlockseries would come to CBS in reboot form, with Bates as the leading lawyer in a gender-swapped role. TheoriginalMatlockseriesran on NBC from 1986 to 1992 and then on ABC until 1995. CBS will give the series a new face, with the reboot exploring the same wolf-in-sheep-clothing premise that the firstMatlocktackled, with Ben Matlock’s folksy exterior masking his fierce legal skills.
TheMatlockreboot will put Bates where Griffith once stood. It will explore how Bates' character,Madeline “Matty” Matlock, uses being an older woman in modern society to her advantage. The series will subvert the harsh reality of older adults feeling invisible in society, with theKathy BatesMatlocktrailershowing Madeline Matlock using her invisibility to scheme legal wins. The series could follow Griffith’sMatlockas one of thebest procedural TV showsever, but it must accommodate a significant blunder in the second episode. After its premiere,Matlockwill swap out one of its highest-billed cast members.
Matlock Reboot Recasts Jamey Sheridan As Senior With Beau Bridges
Beau Bridges Will Step In To Play Senior After Matlock’s Pilot Episode
As the series gained traction, it was announced thatMatlockrecast Jamey Sheridan’s Senior with Beau Bridges.Spotlight’sJamey Sheridan plays Senior in theMatlockpilot– the managing partner in the law firm at which Madeline Matlock is hired. When the series announced the change, it didn’t state a reason. That said, the pilot was ordered in February 2023, although it wouldn’t premiere until nearly two years later. Given this, Sheridan’s availability could have changed during that time.Matlockwas initially set to debut in the 2023-2024 season but was delayed due to the Hollywood strikes.
How Senior’s Recasting Poses A Major Challenge For The Matlock Reboot
Matlock Is Taking A Risk By Swapping Out A Major Character
The casting change poses a significant challenge for the reboot becauseMatlockwill swap out a central character as it tries to entice audiencesto invest in its characters. The switch could confuse the public as they attempt to familiarize themselves with its major players. Worse yet, audiences could become attached to Jamey Sheridan’s portrayal of the Senior character and abandon the series when they realize that Beau Bridges has taken over. While the disorienting transition would be tricky for even the most veteran television shows to navigate, it certainly challengestheMatlockreboot’s freshman run.
Matlockpremieres on Sunday, September 22, at 8 pm ET on CBS.
Still, the series has several factors working to its advantage. TheMatlockpremiere is on September 22, with the second episode airing on October 17. The break between the episodes could give audiences enough time to forget some of the auxiliary elements of the series beforeMatlocksettles into its regular Thursday night time slot. The series is also new, so Sheridan’s Senior may need more than one episode to rub off onMatlock’s audience effectively. Finally,Matlockhas other recurring characters, with Skye P. Marshall, David Del Rio, and Leah Lewis featuring consistently, which can distract from the recasting.
Matlock
Cast
Matlock (2024) follows the return of Madeline Matlock, a brilliant septuagenarian, to a prestigious law firm. Utilizing her unassuming demeanor and astute strategies, she navigates the legal world to win cases and uncover corruption. The series draws inspiration from the classic television series of the same name.
