Jason Ritter Debunks Rumors He’s Leaving ‘Matlock’ Ahead of Season 2: ‘Mustaches Can Be Shaved Off’

Jason Ritter’s mustache should not be taken as a sign of his impending exit from Matlock.

The Parenthood alum, 45, confirmed that he’s not leaving the CBS legal drama after season 1 despite recent rumors in an interview with TV Insider published on Tuesday, March 25.

“[My mustache is] for another show that I’m working on called Lanterns,” he told the outlet. “Mustaches can be shaved off. As soon as I’m done [with Lanterns], I’m back to Matlock.”

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Jason’s comment came after fans speculated that his recent casting as Billy Macon in the upcoming DC Comics series Lanterns, which is set to air on HBO in 2026, and his changing physical appearance meant that he would be leaving Matlock soon.

Furthermore, they theorized that his character on Matlock, Julian Markston Jr., would be unmasked as the person that Kathy Bates’ Matty is trying to track down in her Wellbrexa investigation. Fans believed that Julian would be revealed as the person hiding an important document, which could lead to his exit from the show.

While Jason has confirmed that he’s not going anywhere in Matlock just yet, showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman told TV Insider that fans will learn who hid the document in the season 1 finale, which is set to air on April 17.

“You get the answer to that central question, and then, we push forward into the next season,” she explained.

The finale, titled “Tricks of the Trade,” will be two hours long.

“When Sarah’s client is arrested after his business partner is found murdered, Billy attempts to help her handle the case while Matty and Olympia contend with a pressing confidential matter, on a special two-hour first season finale of the CBS Original Series MATLOCK, Thursday, April 17 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs),” the logline for the two-part episode reads.

Jennie, 49, told TV Insider that Matty will face a personal struggle in the finale.

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“The central tension of the series is that she went in with one mission and then, all of a sudden, she started to like all these people and it became much more difficult,” the showrunner said. “She imagined pulling this off [more easily], but now she’s started to form these relationships. It’s become way more difficult.”

Matlock, which sees lawyer Madeline “Matty” Kingston return to the workforce in search of justice for the death of her daughter Ellie in the opioid epidemic, was renewed for a second season in October 2024.

“This reconceived Matlock was devised by Jennie Snyder Urman with a brilliant surprise plot twist,” CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach said in a statement at the time. “We knew we had something very special the moment we saw the first episode brought to life by the incredibly talented Kathy Bates. The audience reception and critical acclaim for it has been overwhelming. We can’t wait to get started on a second season.”