There's some exciting casting news in store for one of the stars of CBS' hit legal drama Matlock, and if you also happen to be a fan of HBO's The Last of Us, then you will love it, too!
Jason Ritter, who plays the charming yet frustrating Julian Markston in Matlock, has joined the cast of The Last of Us season 3. He will play Hanley, Washington Liberation Front soldier, but there aren't many more details about his character ahead of the new season's premiere. The thrilling new role will surely be a huge departure from the character he plays on Matlock.
Ritter previously appeared in the first season as clicker, an appearance that overlapped with his wife and Yellowjackets star Melanie Lynskey's role as Kathleen Coghlan, a resistance leader. This time around, he doesn't seem to have Lynskey by his side, but Matlock fans will surely have questions about whether this will impact Julian's appearances in season 2 or season 3.
Jason Ritter set for The Last of Us season 3 recurring role
Because Ritter's role in The Last of Us season 3 will be recurring rather than series regular, it's not expected to impact his work on Matlock. There's no indication that he's leaving the legal drama, and given how big his role is on the series, it's unlikely that he would be. Also, the production schedules for both shows allow him to juggle both.
The Last of Us season 3 has reportedly already begun filming in and will continue with production through November ahead of its eventual 2027 premiere on HBO. Matlock season 2 began filming earlier in the summer than most broadcast shows and reportedly wrapped production in March 2026, allowing Ritter to likely begin work on his role in the post-apocalyptic thriller.
It's entirely possible that Ritter can complete his work on The Last of Us season 3 either long before or right in time to pick back up with Matlock season 3 this summer. The number of episodes of HBO's hit series he'll appear in hasn't been revealed, but it's more than likely not going to be all of them, meaning that his presence won't be needed for the full duration of the shoot.
This season in Matlock, Ritter's role as Julian has been expanded and developed in ways that have breathed new life into the series. Julian began as one of Matty's (Kathy Bates) targets for his role in the coverup she blames for her daughter's death, but when he becomes aware of the secret she has been keeping, they are forced to work together and see eye to eye.
Matty and Julian learning to trust each other has been one of the biggest challenges in Matlock season 2, and it's been a pleasure to watch actors like Bates and Ritter build on these new dynamics and dig deeper into their characters. It'll be a change to watch him in a much darker role, but we can't wait to see what Ritter brings to The Last of Us during his Matlock hiatus!