Jason Ritter has some ideas about his character Julian’s second act after Matlock’s shocking revelation — which could include crossing over to Justin Hartley‘s hit CBS series, Tracker.
“If Tracker ever wants a partner [for Justin’s character, Colter], maybe Julian leaves the firm and he starts a new life,” Ritter, 45, joked during an exclusive interview with Us Weekly while promoting his upcoming hosting gig at The Festival of Arts’ California Dreamin’: A Benefit for the Arts on Saturday, August 23. “Just two rugged guys.”
Ritter noted that the season 2 version of Julian is very different from when viewers first met him.
“Julian was in the middle of a divorce, but he was going through his life with his skeletons safely in his closet. Now, with the affair coming out — and then with the other big reveal coming out — he’s in a new boat,” he teased. “There is no pretending with [his ex-wife] Olympia anymore. Or compartmentalizing and putting [things] away in a dark and shameful drawer.”
Who Should Join Justin Hartley’s ‘Tracker’ After Multiple Cast Exits?
The fan-favorite character will have to face his mistakes when Matlock returns. “Julian is going to have to grapple — one way or another — with this. It’s such a shameful thing that he has just put it away, tried to be a good dad and focused on his family,” Ritter explained. “Now, he is grappling with the ramifications of what he did. Also he’s terrified.”
Matlock, which premiered in September 2024, follows a wealthy retired lawyer named Madeline Kingston (Kathy Bates), who pretends to be a poor widower named Matty Matlock to get a job at Jacobson Moore law firm. As it turns out, Matty thinks someone at the company is complicit in the opioid epidemic that resulted in her daughter’s death.
The first season revealed that Julian was responsible for hiding the documents that would have taken opioids off the streets sooner. Julian’s mistake was only revealed to Olympia (Skye P. Marshall), so it remains unclear whether Olympia will tell Matty or protect Julian for the sake of their family.
“It’s a very, very fun and exciting season,” Ritter teased. “The first season, I basically sat back and watched and loved the process. I trusted [creator] Jennie [Snyder Urman] and the writers. That’s how I feel this season, too. They have a plan and I don’t want to mess it up with my ideas.”
Ritter is thrilled with how the season 2 story arc pushed him as an actor.
“They have already taken it in some different directions,” he shared. “I’ve gotten to show other sides [to Julian] and it’s been a lot of fun so far. We’re only at the beginning, so I can’t wait to see what they have in store for me later.”
Which ‘Matlock’ Stars Are — and Aren’t — Returning for Season 2?
Amid production on season 2 of the award-winning series, Ritter is taking a break to host the Festival of Arts Fine Art Show on Saturday in Laguna Beach. The event features a concert by Jack Mack and the Heart Attack before Ritter introduces a special presentation of the 2025 Pageant of the Masters.
“This opportunity came about because Joe Mantegna — who I love very dearly — invited us all to go to this event 20 years ago. It was so mind-blowingly beautiful and such an unforgettable experience. Somehow I actually just haven’t been back since then,” Ritter noted. “Joe just asked if I would love to host and it was an excuse to get to see it again. I can’t wait to watch these paintings come to life. It feels like one of the most surreal things I’ve ever seen live. It’s very, very beautiful and the amount of work that goes into it is incredible. It’s perfect for anybody who is down in Laguna and looking for a beautiful moment.”
The special night is perfect for art fans — and those looking to learn more about the medium.
“They will have this background that’s all beautifully painted and then the actors will step onto these steps. They’ll be painted so that from the angle of the audience, it looks two-dimensional. It looks kind of like a painting,” Ritter told Us. “All of a sudden — at the same time — they all kind of come to life. It’s just so magical. It’s a really effective optical illusion. It’s all different styles of art, too. There’s sculpture and paintings, but the level of talent of the painters and the discipline of the actors who can stand so incredibly still is really amazing.”
Just before the show, Ritter will be drawing the winning ticket for a brand new 2025 Volvo EX30 Twin Motor Performance Ultra (or $10,000 cash in lieu of a car), which visitors can still buy raffle tickets for with $5 for one ticket or $20 for five tickets. Funds raised will benefit the nonprofit organization and its programming.
Matlock returns to CBS on Sunday, October 12, at 8:30 p.m. ET before taking its regular Thursday night time slot on October 16. New episodes will be streaming the next day on Paramount+.
