Matlock Reboot Pilot with Kathy Bates Finds Its Director

Kat Coiro will direct the pilot for a gender-swapped reboot of Matlock with Kathy Bates starring as the titular lawyer.

The Matlock reboot has taken another step forward. Deadline reports that the pilot for a Matlock reboot series, which was previously revealed to be in the works at CBS, had recruited Kat Coiro (Marry Me) to direct and executive produce the pilot. While the report notes that Coiro will only executive produce the pilot episode, the door is presumably open to direct additional episodes if the show gets ordered to series. Coiro recently served as a director and EP on the Disney+ series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and is working on the streamer’s upcoming series The Spiderwick Chronicles in the same capacity. She has also worked on the TV shows Dead to Me, Shameless, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Modern Family, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

Bates and Urman are executive producing the series with actor Eric Christian Olsen, John Will, and Joanna Klein. Inspired by the original TV show of the same name, the new Matlock is written by Jane the Virgin creator Jennie Snyder Urman. The reboot follows Bates as “the brilliant septuagenarian Madeline Matlock” who “rejoins the work force at a prestigious law firm where she uses her unassuming demeanor and wily tactics to win cases and expose corruption from within.” It’s a plot very reminiscent of the original show in which Andy Griffith’s titular character, Ben Matlock, would do the same.

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Fantastic Casting Might Save the Matlock Reboot

Reboots of beloved movies and TV shows from years past can often lead to discontent from fans. News that Matlock was getting the reboot treatment has expectedly made some waves with fans of the classic TV show, but fan responses on social media would suggest that most are willing to give this one a try. While fans can be leery about reboots, especially when it comes to succeeding such a popular actor like Andy Griffith, the hook with Matlock is that it’s the amazing Kathy Bates attached to star. The excellent casting will seemingly help many fans get over that initial judgment they might have over another classic show getting rebooted.

Dean Hargrove created the original Matlock, which ran for nine seasons between 1986 and 1995. Andy Griffith starred with revolving co-stars over the years including names like Linda Purl, Kene Holliday, Kari Lizer, Nancy Stafford, Julie Sommars, Clarence Gilyard Jr., Brynn Thayer, Daniel Roebuck, and Carol Huston. Don Knotts also had a recurring role, a fun nod for fans of The Andy Griffith Show.

Classic episodes of Matlock are streaming for free on the free streaming platform Pluto TV.