Matlock wrapped up season 2 with an epic two-parter, finally bringing all the threads of the last two seasons together. Matty (Kathy Bates) and Olympia (Skye P. Marshall) were finally ready to bring down Senior (Beau Bridges) for covering up the Wellbrexa files. It took a turn when they realized pretty much the entire board of Jacobson Moore was in on the plan.
Matty reached out to an FBI agent, Lida Gutierrez, who’d lost her brother to opioid addiction and so knew just what Matty was after. After various twists and turns, Matty and Olympia got the evidence at last, with Lida leading the feds in arresting the entire Jacobson Moore board.
Playing the role of Lida was Gina Rodriguez, best known for playing the title role in the CW dramedy Jane the Virgin. That series was created by Jennie Snyder Urman, who also serves as showrunner for Matlock. Urman told TVLine that Rodriguez was always her first choice for this important role.
"I was literally just sitting on my bed, struggling on how to write this role. I was like, 'Who would it be, and how would it be interesting?' And then I was like, 'If it was Gina, it would be so interesting!'"
Urman added she texted Rodriguez “at, like, 11 at night with the offer, and she texted back at 11:03 and said yes."
Urman added that casting Rodriguez was vital as it helped her understand "just what kind of person [Lida] is and how to create this sort of odd duck of a loner who comes in for not that many scenes but very significant scenes."
It should be no surprise at all that Rodriguez came onto this series as Matlock has become a go-to spot for former Jane stars!
What other Jane the Virgin stars can come to Matlock?
Urman hinted that Rodriguez may return in Matlock season 3, with Lida aiding in the trials of Senior and other firm members. If so, there’s a chance Rodriguez may reunite on screen with the wide range of former Jane the Virgin co-stars who have been popping up on Matlock.
So far, there’s been Yael Grobglas (Petra) in the recurring role of jury consultant Shae; Justina Machado (Darci) as Senior’s ex-wife Eva (who, upon being arrested in the finale, wasted no time asking to cut a deal); Yara Martinez (Luisa) as a client; and the season 2 finale saw Bridget Regan (Rose) as an opposing attorney.
When asked about the chances of seeing Jaime Camil, who played beloved Rogelio de la Vega, Urman laughed, "Yes, yes, yes. Absolutely. One hundred percent." She also hopes to bring back Shae "because she and Matty, there was something real that was forged there."
Here’s hoping season 3 brings back some of these faces and more from Jane the Virgin for these unique crossovers.
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