Leah Lewis Returns to Matlock Just Two Months After David Del Rio’s Firing
Matlock is rolling again: Leah Lewis shared a Dec. 1 set photo confirming her return and signaling Season 2 filming has resumed nearly two months after costar David Del Rio’s firing — the first concrete production update since the controversy.
Quick update on the very messy Matlock situation: Leah Lewis is back on set, and yes, Season 2 looks like it has actually resumed filming after weeks of silence and a whole lot of uncertainty. It is the first real sign the show is moving forward since the controversy around David Del Rio exploded.
What Leah shared
On December 1, Lewis posted a photo to her Instagram Story in full Sarah Franklin wardrobe and dropped a simple caption:
"And we back up and running."
Short, to the point, and exactly what Matlock watchers wanted to hear.
How we got here
Back in early fall, reports surfaced that Del Rio had been fired from the CBS series after an allegation of sexual assault. Outlets including E! News reported that the alleged incident occurred on September 26 in Lewis' trailer on the Paramount lot. CBS Studios launched an internal investigation immediately; by October 2, the inquiry had wrapped and Del Rio was removed from the set that same day. Neither CBS Studios nor Del Rio has publicly commented on the findings, per Deadline.
Shortly after his exit, Lewis posted a separate note to Instagram thanking people for their support, which read:
"Mom is here. We're moving forward in love and strength. I'm in good hands."
Production status, for real
The show did go dark for a planned Thanksgiving hiatus, and CBS always intended to pick back up afterward. Lewis' December 1 post is the first direct indication that the hiatus is officially over and cameras are rolling again on Season 2.
The writing problem no one can ignore
Del Rio's departure is not a small tweak for this series. His character, Billy Martinez, was tied into multiple Season 1 threads, including a big reveal connected to Claudia's pregnancy. Removing him this deep into the run is a headache for the writers, and it will be interesting to see whether they recast, rewrite, or quietly shuffle plotlines.
The key dates, at a glance
- Sept 26: Alleged incident in Lewis' trailer on the Paramount lot (per reports).
- Oct 2: CBS Studios wraps its internal investigation; Del Rio is removed from set the same day.
- Late Nov: Planned Thanksgiving break.
- Dec 1: Lewis posts from set in costume, signaling Season 2 is back in production.
So, bottom line: Matlock Season 2 is filming again. There's still no public word from the studio or Del Rio on the investigation, and the show now has to re-engineer a character who mattered to several arcs. Messy situation, clear update.